Multi-Agency Response Holds Fire Off Vigilante Rd

Moreno Valley-

On June 4th, 2013 at 12:17 PM, the Heartland Communications Center received multiple 911 calls about a vegetation fire burning behind the businesses in the 12500 block of Vigilante Rd. A medium wildland response was initiated which brought 3 brush engines, three structural engines, one water tender, two duty officers, and an ALS medic unit. Cal Fire also initiated a response which included additional brush engines and aircraft.

Firefighter Todd Welch overhauling the fire area.

Crews from Lakeside and Santee continue the overhaul process in heavy overhead fuels.

The first arriving officer was Fire Chief Parr who located a fire burning in a creek bed near the businesses. Engine 2 (River Park Station), and engines from the Santee Fire Department took up positions to stop the spread. Additional companies were requested to assist with overhaul in the area. Brush 225 (Viejas Fire), and Cal Fire crews cut a containment line around the fire which was located in heavy fuels.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Lakeside Fire was assisted by Santee Fire, Viejas Fire, and Cal Fire. A total of 11 Lakeside personnel responded to the fire.

Submitted By: Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District
Photos By: Fire Captain Rick Dalldorf, Lakeside Fire District

Lakeside Assists CALFIRE at Brush Fire in Alpine

Alpine-

On Thursday, May 2nd 2013 at 12:54 PM, units from throughout the area were dispatched to the 2100 blk of Twisted Oak Lane for a "high wildland" vegetation fire. The "high wildland" brings additional resources to the fire based on current weather conditions. In this case units from Alpine, Lakeside, CALFIRE, USFS, and Viejas responded to the fire as part of the automatic aid agreement. This augmented response allows incident commanders the ability to address a broader range of needs during the first critical minutes of a fire.

Firefighters from USFS and Lakeside cut hand line around the perimeter of the fire.

Arriving companies found a brush fire burning between residences in medium brush. Crews immediately attacked the fire and placed engines on threatened structures in the neighborhood. Fortunately crews were able to hold the fire to about an acre without any damage to nearby residential structures.

Crews from multiple agencies work to mop-up remaining hot spots.

Due to the dry winter, and the current heat wave, fuels are tinder dry.

Crews were committed for about two hours.

Investigators have determined that the fire was started by weed abatement efforts using a power mower with a metal blade. Any abatement effort utilizing metal blades should be conducted prior to 10 am to prevent sparks from igniting tinder dry vegetation.

Submitted By: Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District

Structure Fire in Blossom Valley brings Multi-Agency Response

Blossom Valley-

On Tuesday, March 12th 2013 at 11:32 PM, the Lakeside Fire Protection District received a call about a fire in a detached garage in the 10000 blk of Silva Rd in the Blossom Valley area. The reporting party stated that an RV in the structure was possibly on fire. Four structural engines, a truck company, and ALS medic unit, and two duty chiefs were assigned to the call.

Crews attack the fire inside of the RV.

On the arrival of Engine 26 (Blossom Valley Station) they found a large detached garage with heavy smoke conditions on the interior. With the arrival of Engine 17 (Alpine Fire) crews accessed the interior and found smoke conditions down to the floor. Interior crews were able to open up the doors to decrease smoke conditions, they then discovered the fire was isolated to the interior of the vehicle. Fortunately the fire had not extended to the structure.

Lakeside Fire was assisted by Alpine and Viejas Fire. Cause is currently under investigation.

View 2013 Incident Map in a larger map  

Photo By: Fire Engineer-Paramedic Rich Smith, Lakeside Fire District
Submitted By: Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District

Brush Fire Burns along Interstate 8

Glenview-

On Thursday, July 12, 2012, at 5:02 p.m., the Lakeside Fire District received multiple calls about a fire on the westbound side of Interstate 8 just east of the Los Coches Rd off-ramp. Callers reported that the fire was burning towards structures on Calle de Buena Fe. Initially dispatched were two brush type engines, two structural engines, an incident commander (Tockstein), and an ALS medic unit. Once the reports of "structures threatened" was received, an additional two structural engines were dispatched, two additional brush engines, and an additional staff officer.

View Incident Map 2012 in a larger map 

Arriving units found a fire burning on the north side of the interstate on the easement. About a half-acre of grass and medium brush had been consumed. Engines were sent to the interstate to attack the fire, while additional engines were sent to Calle de Buena Fe to perform structural protection.

Crews were able to stop the forward progress of the fire. There were no reports of structural damage. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Lakeside received assistance from CalFire, Alpine Fire, Santee Fire, Viejas Fire, and the San Miguel Fire District.

Submitted By: Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire Protection District San Diego, California News Station - KFMB Channel 8 - cbs8.com

Multi-Agency Confined Space Rescue Drill

Multiple agencies cooperating in the simulation

 A multi company, multi agency drill was held today in Alpine to prepare for possible confined space rescue operations involving construction crews working on the SDG&E Sunrise Powerlink. The event was hosted by SDG&E and the Alpine Fire Protection District. The two year construction project is well under way and will involve the underground routing of high voltage power lines along Alpine Blvd. The underground section of the Powerlink will span 6.2 miles from Alpine’s eastern boundary to its western border. The drill simulated the rescue of a worker injured in a fall located at the bottom of an electrical junction vault fifteen feet below the road surface. A rescue operation of this type is complicated by many possible hazards including; energized electrical equipment, tight access and egress, potentially dangerous air quality, hampered communication, working below grade and road traffic to name just a few. 

A specially trained Santee firefighter prepares to enter the underground vault.

To safely mitigate these hazards required the involvement of  two battalion chiefs, seven engine companies, one rescue unit, one confined space rescue trailer, one ambulance, technical assistance from SDG&E and PAR Electrical Contractors and traffic control personnel. A total of forty people were kept busy in various roles to complete the successful rescue of just one injured worker. Personnel and equipment were utilized from the cooperating fire agencies of Alpine, Lakeside, Santee, Viejas, Sycuan and San Diego Rural. Technical information and assistance was provided by experts from SDG&E and PAR Electrical Contractors which proved to be invaluable for the safety of the rescue crews. 

The injured worker (mannequin) hoisted from the vault

The simulated injury to the worker took place in an underground electrical vault measuring approximately 10’ wide by 12’ tall by 30’ long which will be used as one of many junction points for the 230 kV power lines that will run in conduit under Alpine Blvd. A total of forty junction vaults will eventually be set in place to complete the underground section running through Alpine. Today’s drill will be repeated two more times this month to give additional crews the opportunity to be exposed to this specialized rescue scenario that has the potential to play out in reality over the course of this project.  Important lessons learned today include the importance of cooperation between on scene construction experts and responding agencies as well as the continuing cooperation and training between the multiple fire agencies that will likely be called to this potential emergency.

Submitted by: Chuck Palmore, Lakeside Fire Captain

Lakeside, Alpine and Viejas Fire Departments Train in Trench Rescues

Viejas: Woven throughout virtually every community are a series of underground utilities that at some point required a trench to place the equipment. Trenching operations for the most part are safe and typically don’t have disastrous outcomes, but for those operations that skirt current OSHA regulations, or trenching equipment is used improperly, the outcome can result in severe injuries or death.

Padre Dam Municipal Water District sent their vacuum truck capable of removing 12 yards of dirt per load. These trucks are considered important tools in trench rescue.

Till the late 1980’s fire agencies had little formal training on trench collapse, in many cases the rescuers would become additional victims. Statistically 25% of all victims are “would-be-rescuers.” This number includes co-workers and first responders that entered the trench and soon became trapped.

Santee Fire Captain David Leask demonstrates a set of Speed Shores.

So problematic were the issues that soon OSHA would mandate that “trench rescue teams” had to have mandated training, and that their rescue operations would meet the same industry standards that everyone was subjected to.

Lakeside Engineer Steve Schleif lowers a set of speed shores into a trench opening.

Soon the fire service responded by established formal training programs, and outfitting specialized teams that carried the unique equipment required at these operations. At some point in every firefighters career they receive this training.

A firefighter works on the lower strut inside of the trench. Room is a premium once inside of the trench.

Recently this complex training was made available to agencies on the eastern edge of the Central Zone (old Heartland Zone), through funding from San Diego Gas and Electric. Firefighters from Lakeside, Alpine, and Viejas were invited to participate in the two day training.

Viejas provided the site where a series of complex trenches could be dug to hold the training, and the Santee Fire Department supplied the instructors and technical expertise for the training. Currently the Santee Fire Department has an active confined space/trench rescue program jointly funded with the Padre Dam Municipal Water District.

Firefighters work to create a safe area where rescue operation can begin.

The two day class involved orientation to current OSHA standards that affect rescue operations, orientation to commercially available shoring devices, and improvised shoring operations. The last day crews spend the entire day in the trenches tackling complex shoring operations and  simulated emergency situations.

Two firefighters work a the bottom of a trench to remove a simulated victim.

The Lakeside Fire District would like to thank the following participants:


San Diego Gas and Electric - Provided funding for the entire training and related costs.
Viejas: For providing the training site and the hospitality.
Santee Fire Department: For providing the instructors and technical expertise.
Padre Dam Municipal Water District: For sending specialized equipment to the drill site.




Submitted By: Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District