Vehicle Rescue on Winter Gardens Blvd

Winter Gardens-

On Wednesday, April 3rd 2013 at 3:58 PM, the Lakeside Fire Protection District received a call about a vehicle accident with trapped victims in the 8300 blk of Winter Gardens Blvd. Units initially sent included two structural engines, a rescue company, an ALS medic unit, and a duty chief.

On the arrival of Engine 19 (San Miguel Fire) they discovered a vehicle on it's side with two occupants trapped in the front seat. Efforts began to stabilized the vehicle and render care to the occupants. With the arrival of Rescue 3 (Lake Jennings Station) additional efforts were made to stabilize the vehicle so that cutting operations could begin.

Fire crews extricate the occupants after the roof of the vehicle had been removed.

After removing significant portions of the vehicle crews were able to remove the two victims. Fortunately both occupants had suffered moderate injuries and were able to communicate with first-responders. Both patients were transported to Sharp Memorial Trauma Center.

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Agencies assisting Lakeside include San Miguel Fire, Barona Fire, and Care Ambulance Service.

Submitted By: Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire Protection District

School Bus Vs. Fire Hydrant

Wintergardens Area-

On Friday, January 18th 2013 at 1:29 PM, the Lakeside Fire Protection District received a call about a "knocked off hydrant" in the 9700 blk of Winter Gardens Blvd.   As crews responded from Lakeside fire station #2 (River Park Station), about a mile away, a large geyser of water could be seen shooting in the sky.  Fire crews arrived at scene to find a bus located in front of the Fresh and Easy store and a fire hydrant knocked off at the base with a large column of water flowing directly into the interior of the bus.  No children were in the bus at the time of the accident. 

Water sprays over the parking area on Winter Gardens Blvd

Fire crews worked with Lakeside Water District officials to shut down the the flowing hydrant.  The local business were not flooded and one vehicle located adjacent to the bus received minor flooding to the drivers compartment. 

 CHP officers were at scene investigating the cause of the accident.

Submitted By: Fire Captain John Hisaw, Lakeside Fire Protection District
Photo By: Division Chief Chuck Tockstein, Lakeside Fire Protection District

Lakeside Firefighters Battle Stubborn Garage Fire

Winter Gardens, CA -

A fire in a detached residential garage required the attendance of several fire companies and chief officers on Wednesday, January 2, 2013, in the Winter Gardens area of Lakeside. Heartland Fire Communications received numerous calls just after 9:00 a.m. for a large column of smoke in the 9400 block of Riverview Avenue. Lakeside Division 4103 (Laff) was first on scene reporting heavy smoke visible from the garage with possible extension into the residence. Engine 1 (Riverview station) arrived on scene within four minutes and firefighters stretched attack lines down the driveway. While not visible from the street, the garage was not actually attached to the residence. Firefighters made entry through a side door and quickly knocked down a large amount of fire. Due to the quick response and aggressive fire attack, the fire was stopped before extending into the adjacent residence. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Units attending this incident included: E1, E2, E3, M2, Div. 4103, Div. 4105, Support 4140 (Lakeside); E4, T4 (Santee); E19 (San Miguel). S.D. Sheriff's deputies also assisted. As always, Lakeside would like to thank our automatic aid partners for their timely assistance on this incident.

Heavy smoke visible from garage.

Firefighter-paramedic Jose Corona moves a barbecue from the front of the garage.

Captain Scott Culkin directs the placement of the attack line.

Firefighters start ventilation after knockdown of the fire.

Post by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District
Photos by: Firefighter-paramedic Steve Russo

Vehicle Accident Sends Four to Trauma Center

Winter Gardens: On Friday, April 15, 2011, at 11:11 p.m., the Lakeside Fire District received a report of a traffic accident in the intersection of Winter Gardens Blvd and Wintercrest Drive. Initial reports indicated that one of the occupants might be unconscious. Initially, one structural engine, a rescue company, and ALS medic unit were dispatched to the incident.

Fire crews begin working on access to the back seat patient. In this picture the car appears undamaged. In actuality, the trunk of the vehicle had been pushed towards the rear seats.

On the arrival of Engine 1 and Medic 1 (Riverview Station), firefighters located two vehicles with significant damage. The crew initiated triage and identified a total of four patients, all meeting trauma center criteria. A request was made for an additional ALS medic unit and a BLS ambulance. This brought a response from Medic 4 (Santee Fire-Cottonwood Station), and Care Ambulance.

With the removal of the roof complete the patients were removed and transported to the trauma center.

It was soon discovered that two patients would require extrication due to major structural damage to the vehicle. On the arrival of Rescue 3 (Lake Jennings Station), the decision was made to remove the roof to provide sufficient access for the removal of two patients in the back seat of the vehicle.

After the extrication process was completed, both patients were removed from the vehicle. All four patients were transported to Sharp Memorial Hospital (Trauma Center) for evaluation.

A total of nine Lakeside personnel responded to the incident assisted by two personnel from the Santee Fire Department and two from Care Ambulance Service.

CHP is currently investigating the accident.

Submitted By: Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District.
Photos By: Battalion Chief Ron Laff and Fire Captain Mark Grow

Lakeside Firefighters Battle Structure Fire in Self-Storage Unit

Winter Gardens: Lakeside Firefighters responded to a reported multi-family residential structure fire at 8810 Winter Gardens Blvd at 38 minutes past midnight on Thursday, March 10, 2011. Units assigned to this incident included Lakeside E1, E2, and Battalion 1; El Cajon E8 and Battalion 3; and, Santee E4, Truck 4, and Medic 4. While enroute, Heartland Fire Dispatch reported to the responding units that the fire was located in the storage units in front of the Mountain View apartments at the given address.

Firefighters stretch hoselines and ladder the building.

Upon arrival, Lakeside E1 had smoke showing from the street and began a 4" supply line from the hydrant in front of the complex. After completion of the supply line, E1 encountered heavy fire coming from an open roll-up style storage unit door. The unit on fire threatened exposures on each side and the second floor above it. A vehicle parked directly in front of the involved unit was also starting to burn. E1 deployed a hoseline to attack the fire while E8 assumed the Incident Command role until Battalion 1 arrived.

Crews from Lakeside, El Cajon and Santee work to control the fire.

All of the first alarm units were utilized in the mitigation of this incident including Battalion 3 as Safety Officer and the Santee Fire units laddering the building and performing ventilation operations. After the fire was extinguished, the unit of origin was thoroughly overhauled while the fire investigator on E2 conducted an investigation into the cause of the fire.

Submitted By: Fire Engineer Carl Chiodo, Lakeside Fire District

Show and Tell

One of the many duties firefighters from the Lakeside Fire Protection District fulfill on a daily basis is community outreach and education. In an effort to enhance fire prevention in the community the Lakeside Firefighters do many show and tells with local schools, teaching children about fire safety in the home. Today the show and tell was at Winter Gardens Elementary School. The children were taught age appropriate actions to take in several fire and medical related situations. Our school outreach programs are taught with children in mind, letting them discover the sight and sounds of the fire department so they will be less frightened if they ever have to interact with firefighters. Fires and medical emergencies can be very frightening, especially to children, it is with this thought in mind that our firefighters teach children they can trust us when they are exposed to these and other traumatic situations. Today's classes were taught by E2 and M3. The school show and tell programs are taught by engine companies and medic units that are on shift the day of the event so a unique experience is always delivered.

If you have children in a school within the Lakeside Fire Protection District, ask your school to request a show and tell from the Fire Department. Contact the department through our website at http://www.lakesidefire.net/ to set up an appointment. Unfortunately for the children, we do not have any Dalmatians that we get to bring along.

Submitted by: Firefighter/Paramedic Bernie Molloy

Captain Gonzalez, Firefighter McKenna, and Firefighter-Paramedic Peters demonstrate the gear used in structural firefighting. It's important to expose kids to the noises firefighters make when searching a building as some kids become scared and will not call out for help.

From Winter Gardens Elementary Show and Tell 2/19/10

Firefighter-Paramedic Bryan Peters shows kids the gear used in fighting fires.

From Winter Gardens Elementary Show and Tell 2/19/10

Firefighter-Paramedic Bernie Molloy shows the kids around the engine.

From Winter Gardens Elementary Show and Tell 2/19/10

Auto vs. Ped in Lakeside

Lakeside: On Wednesday, December 23rd at 5:22 PM, one company, a Battalion Chief, and ALS ambulance were dispatched to a pedestrian vs. vehicle at the intersection of Lemoncrest Drive and Winter Gardens Blvd. Units from Lakeside Station #1 found a 13 year old juvenile that had been struck by a car in the intersection. Crews rapidly assessed the patient and determined that her injuries were potentially serious. As paramedics initiated treatment the decision was made to fly the patient via aero-medical to Children's Hospital in Kearny Mesa.

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The child had suffered multiple head injuries and was complaining of abdominal pain. Mercy Air 6 was dispatched from Gillespie Field to a nearby landing zone. A company from the Santee Fire Department was dispatched to the landing zone to coordinate the arrival of the helicopter.

The California Highway Patrol is currently investigating the incident.

Submitted: Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District