Lakeside Fire Responds to Vegetation Fire near Lake Jennings

Lake Jennings Area: On Thursday, July 15th at 3:00 PM, the Lakeside Fire District responded three structural engines, three brush engines, and two chief officers to a reported vegetation fire on the north end of Choisser Ln, near the base of the Lake Jennings Dam.

Fire Chief Andy Parr arrived within minutes and discovered a vegetation fire in a drainage area near the structures. Battalion Chief Brent Larkin arrived and took command of the fire. Engine 3 (Lake Jennings Station) arrived and knocked down the fire. Due to the suspicious nature of the fire a investigator was called to the scene.

Firefighters standby while investigators work the scene.

 Units from Santee Fire and CalFire were dispatched to the incident but were not needed.The fire is currently under investigation.

Submitted By: Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District

Lakeside Fire Provides Support at Crime Scene

Foster: On June 29th the Lakeside Fire District sent a “vehicle rescue” response to Highway 67 at the top of Slaughterhouse Grade. Soon the scene would transition from an accident to a potential crime scene. But a unique aspect of this crime scene was the rough surrounding terrain.

Captain Jerry Daoust and Engineer Steve Schleif staffing the rope system used to lower personnel into the scene.

With a need for access and lighting the crew from Rescue 3 (Lake Jennings Station) supplied operational support, along with Engine 2 (Eucalyptus Hills Station), long into the night.

Crews setup rope systems to assist in lowering crime scene investigators into the area. The grade was such that traditional foot access would have been hazardous. Later fire crews used these systems to assist with the removal of the victims.

Typical terrain at the scene.

Fire crews routinely work with our law enforcement partners in providing support operations so that they can conduct their investigations.

Submitted By: Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District.

US&R Canine Training in Lakeside

Lakeside, CA - Canine Search Specialists with the San Diego Urban Search and Rescue, California Task Force 8 spent a few hours in Lakeside on Sunday, July 11, 2010. These highly-trained dog handlers and their canine companions practiced searching for "victims" in the concrete rubble pile at the Lakeside Land Company on Riverford Rd.

The dog handlers bury a "victim" under the rubble (note the pallet).

These specialized search teams may be deployed to many different types of emergencies and disasters including earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and terrorist events.

Fletch (center-right) quickly locates the victim in a sea of rubble. Handler Brent Brainard can be seen at the far left.

Lakeside Engineer/Paramedic Richard Smith and his US&R search dog Bella.

Bella locates the trapped victim.

A special thanks to Lakeside Land Company for the use of their facility for this invaluable training opportunity.

Story and photos by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District

Lakeside Station 3 Units at Heartland Fire Training Facility

El Cajon - The C-division crew from Lakeside's Lake Jennings fire station (fs3) attended their regularly scheduled drill at Thomas H. Owen Heartland Fire Training Facility (TOTF) on Friday evening, July 9, 2010.

Engine 3 on the "grinder" at TOTF.

These so-called "color group" drills give fire crews a chance to practice many different aspects of firefighting often times with crews from other Central (formerly Heartland) zone departments.

Engineer/Paramedic Richard Smith goes over a pump calculation with Firefighter/Paramedic Steve Russo

During their drill, the station 3 crews practiced basic hoselays including laying supply lines from hydrants and stretching and flowing different preconnected attack lines. Members also got in some time practicing pumper operations utilizing Engine 3, a 1500 gallon per minute, Class A pumper.

Engine 3 crew stretching and flowing attack lines

These types of drills help ensure that firefighters are able to competently and safely perform their jobs when the public calls.

Santee Truck 4 crew positioning their 40-foot extension ladder

Story by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District
Photos by: Paramedic Intern James MacMaster

Lakeside Firefighters Tackle Residential Structure Fire

Riverview: On July 8, 2010, at 1627 hours, Engine 1 from Lakeside's Riverview fire station was toned-out for a smoke check in the 9200 block of Emerald Grove Ave in Lakeside.  Initial reports to Heartland dispatch were that the homeowners were out of town and smoke was coming from the chimney.  On arrival, Engine1 found dark brown smoke showing from the chimney and light smoke coming from the attic vents.  The incident was immediately upgraded to a full 1st alarm structure assignment.  After pulling 400 feet of 4-inch supply line up hill to the nearest fire hydrant and forcing entry, units found the home charged with dark smoke down to the floor with zero visibility.  Ventilation was quickly initiated, assisting interior crews in locating the fire that was burning in the back bedroom.   The fire was quickly extinguished and no one was injured. 



Units on-scene of this incident included Battalion 1, Engine 1, Engine 2, Rescue 3, and Medic 1 from Lakeside.  Also Truck 4 from Santee, Engine 19 from San Miguel, and Engine 3385 from Cal Fire assisted efforts.

Story and photos submitted by: Firefighter/Paramedic Matthew Buzzell, Lakeside Fire District

Crews Extricate Trapped Victim in Lakeside

Lakeview - Crews from the Riverview Fire Station 1 and Lake Jennings Fire Station 3 were called to Lakeview Granada Drive in Lakeside for reports of a vehicle accident with a trapped victim.  When units arrived on scene they found a Toyota truck which had rolled and ended up resting on the driver's side.  Lakeside Battalion 1, Chief Larkin, took command of the incident and assigned Rescue 3 as the Rescue Group with Engine 1 assisting them with patient extrication. M1 was assigned Medical Group and provided patient care and transport once the patient was extricated.

The patient was fortunate to have fairly mild injuries but was trapped in his vehicle.  In a situation like this firefighters and rescue personnel must first stabilize the vehicle before they are able to begin extrication.

As pictured above, firefighters use Rescue 42 struts to stabilize the vehicle.  By utilizing these struts the vehicle is secure for firefighters to work around.  Once the vehicle is stabilized, a Firefighter/Paramedic will enter the cab of the vehicle with the trapped patient to begin delivering medical care.  If the vehicle is not stabilized there is the risk that it could move or fall onto rescuers on scene and further injure the occupant.

Firefighters place struts to stabilize the vehicle.

A view of the rescue in progress.  Note the "jaws of life" on the ground.

A gurney is moved into place to move the patient to the Ambulance

The windshield is removed to provide access to the patient.

In order to complete the extrication and remove the patient from the vehicle, the front windshield was cut out of the vehicle.  The objective on any vehicle extrication is to remove the car around the patient so we can extricate the patient without adding to the injuries they have sustained during the extrication.  This goal was met in this circumstance by removing the front windshield which provided sufficient room to remove the patient.  The patient was transported by M1 to a local hospital for further treatment.

Submitted by:  Firefighter / Paramedic Bernie Molloy

Lakeside Firefighters Assist Precarious Pickup

Winter Gardens - Lakeside Firefighters assisted a motorist who got his pickup truck in a precarious position on Saturday, July 3, 2010. Crews from the Riverview (fs1) and Lake Jennings (fs3) fire stations responded to assist. Firefighters secured the vehicle with the winch on Rescue 3 before removing the driver from the pickup. Fire units attending this incident included E1, R3, M1, and B1. California Highway Patrol and a private tow company also assisted.

Lakeside Fire Captain John Hisaw confers with CHP Officers.

Vehicle is secured by winch prior to driver removal.

A precarious angle by any measurement!

Story and photos submitted by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District

Lakeside Firefighters Rescue Two From Apartment Fire

Lakeside, CA - Firefighters rescued two adults from a fire in a Lakeside apartment complex in the early morning of Saturday, July 3, 2010. Units from Lakeside's Riverview fire station (fs1) arrived in the 12000 block of Woodside Ave. shortly after the 3:31 a.m. dispatch to find smoke showing from a second-story unit. An initial report by neighbors indicated that the occupants were still inside the burning apartment. Firefighters under the command of Lakeside Battalion Chief Brent Larkin (B1) coordinated the fire attack with the rescue of two occupants from the smoky dwelling. Both occupants were transported to a local hospital by Lakeside Firefighter/Paramedics.

Fire units attending this fire included E4, T4 (SNT), E19 (SMG), E1, E2, M1, M3, B1, 4103, P412 (LKS).  San Diego Sheriff's deputies and SDG&E also assisted.

Story Submitted by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District