Lakeside Firefighters Receive Sheriff's "Distinguished Service Award"

MCAS Miramar, Bob Hope Theater-

Little did fire crews reporting to work on a September day know they would soon be involved in a shoot out between Sheriff Deputies and a suspect in the 12700 block of Mapleview Street. Deputies from the Santee Sheriff office had developed a lead that possible child abuse was occurring in a local apartment complex. Acting on that information the deputies attempted to make contact with the suspect. Soon shots rang out leaving both deputies injured from gunshot wounds. Deputies returned fire while seeking refuge from the continued gunfire.

A call for assistance was made which brought a response from law enforcement throughout San Diego County. Responding law enforcement officials continued to receive gunfire from the apartment. At the same time the Lakeside Fire Protection District received a call to respond to the incident for the injured officers. An engine company and medic unit responded from the River Park, and Lake Jennings fire stations.

San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore makes the award presentation to Captain-Paramedic John Hisaw, Firefighter-Paramedic Danny Leetch, Firefighter-Paramedic Jamie Hazlewood, and Firefighter Paramedic Eric Stamm. Not present was Fire Engineer Rob Andrews.

Knowing that two deputies had suffered life threatening injuries a plan was put into action that would involve fire crews operating under the cover of law enforcement. Crews entered the complex and quickly located the two officers. They were removed to a safe area where advanced life support could be initiated. But it became obvious that both of these patients needed quick transport to the trauma center where definitive care could be initiated.

The most severely injured deputy was loaded into Medic 3 and quickly transported to Sharp Memorial Trauma Center. During the transport the patient received some of the most advanced trauma care allowed in San Diego County.

Calls for additional medic units brought two ALS units from the Santee Fire Department. The second deputy was loaded into an arriving medic unit and was also transported to Sharp Memorial Trauma Center.



As the crime scene was still unfolding the third medic unit staged in the area in anticipation that others may receive injuries. Later that medic unit would be utilized to transport the injured suspect to a local trauma center.

On May 8th, 2013, the San Diego Sheriff Department awarded the "Distinguished Service Award" to Fire Captain-Paramedic John Hisaw, Fire Engineer Rob Andrews, Firefighter-Paramedic Eric Stamm, Firefighter-Paramedic Jamie Hazlewood, and Firefighter-Paramedic Danny Leetch. The award ceremonies took place at MCAS Miramar in the Bob Hope Theater.

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

Brush Fire Threatens River Bottom

Lakeside-

A fast moving brush fire quickly spread from Highway 67 into the nearby San Diego River bottom. On Thursday, May 2nd 2013 at 4:16 PM, Fire Chief Andy Parr observed a small fire starting on southbound Highway 67 between Winter Gardens Blvd and Riverford Rd. After notifying the Heartland Communications Center of the fire a high wildland fire response was dispatched which included three brush rigs, four structural engines, a water tender, two duty chiefs, and an ALS medic unit.

The fire makes an eastward push towards the conservancy.

Fire running eastward down the freeway easement. The fire eventually burned north into the river bottom. (Photo By: Ken Kremensky)

The fire quickly extended off of the freeway easement into the thick fuels north of the freeway. The fire started to make a hard run to the east which threatened the Lakeside River Park Conservancy. Crews were initially placed to stop the eastward spread of the fire while other crews placed hoselays to surround the fire. Due to the dense nature of the vegetation in this area crews were committed for an extended period of time conducting mop-up operations.

Lakeside Engine 2 knocks down flames on the east end of the fire. (Photo By: Ken Kremensky)

Crews work in the heavy vegetation in the river bottom.

Lakeside Fire District was assisted by the Santee Fire Department and CALFIRE, A total of 17 Lakeside personnel responded to the incident.

 The fire consumed 1.5 acres of brush. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

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

 

View 2013 Incident Map in a larger map

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

Lakeside Fire District's Senior Smoke Detector Program

The Lakeside Fire Protection District in conjunction with the Burn Instituteof San Diego will now offer a Senior Smoke Detector Program. The new program is available to senior citizens who are in need of smoke detectors or battery replacement in existing detectors free of charge. On April 25, 2013, District Logistical Volunteer Group members Dennis Canfield and Don Pebley installed the first of what we hope are many smoke detectors for the Senior Citizens who reside in the District.

Lakeside LVG Dennis Canfield installing the first smoke detector.

A properly installed and maintained smoke alarm is the only thing in your home that can alert you and your family to a fire 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether you’re awake or asleep, a working smoke alarm is constantly on alert, scanning the air for fire and smoke.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in properties without working smoke alarms. A working smoke alarm significantly increases your chances of surviving a deadly home fire.

LVG Don Pebley installs another detector at the same residence.

Senior Citizens who wish to request smoke detector installation can call the Lakeside Fire Protection District Administration at (619) 390-2350, Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Every effort will be made to contact the requesting party within 5 business days to arrange installation of new detectors or battery replacement.

Submitted by: Lakeside Division Chief Chuck Tockstein

Heartland Fire Training 23rd Academy Graduates

El Cajon, CA -

A happy group of firefighter recruits attended a well-deserved graduation ceremony on Saturday, April 27, 2013, after successfully completing a comprehensive 16-week fire training academy at Heartland Fire Training Facility in El Cajon. Each fire recruit completed over 480-hours of training and will graduate with a California State Firefighter I certification.

The 23rd Heartland Fire Academy was taught by a dedicated cadre of fire professionals from San Diego County Central Zone fire departments including Heartland Fire-Rescue, Lakeside, and Viejas. These lead instructors were assisted by fire companies from throughout the central zone over the course of the 16-week academy.

The Thomas H. Owen Sr. Heartland Fire Training Facility has served to train east county firefighters since its inception on December 1, 1973. Established as a Joint Powers Authority, it is widely considered one of the first cooperative training ventures of its kind in the nation and has helped foster the delivery of regional fire protection to the citizens of east county for nearly 40 years.

Lakeside Fire Division Chief Jim Kirkpatrick congratulates Reserve Firefighter Jason Runkle on graduation day.

Academy recruits demonstrate their skills at a graduation ceremony conducted at the Tom Owen Training Facility

Post by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District

We Love A Clean Lakeside

Lakeside-

Photo courtesy of Jay Renard, Photojournalist East County Herald

Over 300 volunteers from the Mormon Helping Hands descended upon Lindo Lake County Park today. They worked in conjunction with I Love A CleanSan Diego’s Creek to Bay Cleanup project to clean several sites here in Lakeside. This well organized effort deployed groups of volunteers to Lindo Lake, the Lakeside Linkage Preserve, the Whitaker House, and the San Diego River at Cactus Park. 

Working closely with the Lakeside's River Park Conservancy, this mass of workers not only cleaned up debris around the lake and other sites, but did landscape work, painted public restrooms, the boat house and bridge, and re-stripped the parking lot and handicapped parking spaces. The project began bright and early this morning and by 8:00am hundreds of volunteers clad in yellow vests swarmed around Lindo Lake and the other locations looking much like busy worker bees. By 12:00 noon they departed our Lakeside community to reveal sparkling clean parks and grounds.

Pictured with Lakeside LVG members and Engine 2 Crew are event coordinator Marsi Walker and Robert Wood. Photo courtesy of Jay Renard, Photojournalist East County Herald

Lakeside Fire District’s Logistics Volunteer Group was there in force along with Engine and Medic 2 to support the clean-up effort with shade, water and snacks that were provided by the Mormon Helping Hands Santee Stake.

 Mormon Helping Hands began in 1998 and has since donated millions of hours of service through hundreds of thousands of volunteers. It is a non-proselytizing program meant to provide assistance through response to natural disasters and local needs within the community. We thank the Mormon Helping Hands and all of the volunteers who participated in today’s beautification effort here in Lakeside.

 Submitted by: Chuck Palmore, Lakeside Fire Captain

Multi-Agency Response Stops a Fire Before it Starts

Pepper Drive Area -

A heads-up homeowner and some old fashioned detective work prevented a dangerous attic fire from erupting in Lakeside on April 27, 2013. A strong smell of smoke in his home prompted the homeowner to seek the help of the fire department in locating the source. Heartland Fire Communications dispatched a full first-alarm structure assignment bringing E1, E3, M2, Division 4103 (Lakeside); E8, E9 (El Cajon); T4 (Santee); and Chief 4801 (Barona) to the scene.

Firefighters systematically checked the two-story home and eventually located the source of the smoke in a corner of the second-story attic space. Once located, the small, smoldering fire was accessed by cutting a hole in the roof and applying water from a preconnected hoseline. Although a small amount of damage was warranted, the detection and extinguishment of this small fire prevented a potentially devastating attic fire.

This response characterizes the excellent interagency cooperation and seamless emergency response that we enjoy in east county. As always, Lakeside would like to thank our auto-aid partners for their timely assistance and excellent work on this call.

Firefighters go to work on the roof.

Santee Truck 4 Captain John Sengebusch and Firefighter-paramedic Clint Pusey accessing the fire.

Post and Photos by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District

The “Mass-Casualty Incident”: Bringing Organization to Chaos

Viejas-

Crews have been dispatched to a vehicle accident on the freeway. While en route law enforcement advises them that a bus has rolled off of the freeway and they have multiple victims with some trapped. This was the scenario crews faced during a recent drill at the Viejas Outlet Center. The drill was recently coordinated by the Viejas Fire Department as part of an inter-agency training that involves first-responders in the east county region of San Diego County.

The crew from Lakeside Rescue 3, and CALFIRE, start working on a plan to remove a victim from under the bus.

Mass-causality incidents present one of the most challenging scenes that first-responders can be faced with. Not only do you have the challenge of organizing a highly traumatic scene, but you must sort through the patients and identify those most in need of help....quickly. The benchmark of an effectively managed incident is the delivery of the most severely injured to local hospitals in the shortest possible span of time. Ultimately surgical intervention is the only thing that will save these traumatized victims, thus a real effort must be made to get those people transported to appropriate care.

Victims are brought to treatment areas where the received care prior to transport to the hospital.

Victims are sent to local hospitals from the treatment areas based on severity of their injuries.

In this scenario crews were also faced with a victim that was ejected from the bus and then became trapped. Lakeside Rescue 3 was given the assignment to remove the victim with the assistance of an engine company from CALFIRE. A pneumatic system of high pressure airbags was used to lift the vehicle off of the victim.

Crew members are critiqued by observers. Everybody learns something new.

The skills re-enforced at this drill are universal to any incident that involves several casualties that has the potential to overwhelm local first-responders, or the local hospitals. In this drill a total of 22 patients were evaluated.



Agencies participating in this training were:

Alpine Fire Protection District
American Medical Response
Barona Fire Department
CALFIRE
Lakeside Fire Protection District
Mercy Air
Sharp-Grossmont Hospital
Sycuan Fire Department
Viejas Fire Department
Viejas Tribal Security

Thanks again to the Viejas Fire Department for sponsoring this training opportunity.

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