Vegetation Fire on Slaughterhouse Grade

Foster: On Saturday, May 29th, 2010 at 1200 hrs, the Heartland Communications Center received 911 calls about multiple fires starting near the top of Slaughterhouse Grade on Highway 67. Heartland dispatched two brush engines, three structural engines, an ALS ambulance, and a Battalion Chief to the incident. Crews quickly saw the smoke from two different fires in the area. In addition to the Heartland response CalFire had a full response enroute, including air assets from Ramona and Gillispie Field. Commanders ordered an additional strike team from the USFS.

Lakeside Fire Crews starting a hoselay on Division Zulu.

Fire Chief Andy Parr arrived first and reported on two fires that were well established on the east side of the highway, making a run towards San Vicente Reservoir. Lakeside Battalion Chief Ron Laff arrived and assumed "Slaughterhouse IC." On the arrival of the CalFire overhead a Unified Command was established and CalFire Battalion Chief Mike White assumed "Operations."

Crews worked in some rough country. The hillside got even steeper than this area.

Given the proximity of the two fires, and the direction of travel, it was determined that the two fires would ultimately burn together. Engine crews established hoselays on the northern and southern perimeter, and with the assistance of the air tankers and helicopters, the fire progress was slowed.

Division Alpha initiates a hoselay on the north boundary of the fire.

Crews laid out in excess of  6000 feet of hose, in extreme country, to surround the fire. About 30 acres of vegetation were consumed in this fire.

The steep terrain required hands and feet in many areas.

Divisions Alpha and Zulu meet to contain the fire overlooking the San Vicente reservoir.

CalFire brought in a dozer and handcrews to establish physical control lines. CalFire is investigating the cause of the fire.

Submitted By: Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District

Lakeside Firefighters Tackle Vehicle Fire

Camino Canada: Firefighters from Lakeside's Lake Jennings fire station (fs3) responded to a reported vehicle fire at the park-and-ride on Camino Canada Rd. near Interstate 8 on Wednesday, May 26, 2010. The C-division crew from Engine 3 arrived to find a passenger vehicle with a well-involved engine compartment. The fire was extinguished using a preconnected hoseline and utilizing water from the 500 gallon tank on Engine 3.

Vehicle fires are among the many types of fires that Lakeside firefighters respond to every year.

Fire takes hold of the engine compartment.

Firefighters mask-up before beginning fire attack.

Firefighter/Paramedic Steve Russo knocks-down the fire

Making access to the engine compartment.

Submitted by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District
Photos by: Engineer/Paramedic Richard Smith and FF/PM Steve Russo

Multiple Fire Agencies Battle Lakeside Structure Fire

Glenview: A stubborn, two-alarm fire required the attendance of numerous east county fire agencies in Lakeside on Monday, May 24th, 2010 at 1:38 PM, in the 12800 blk of Jackson Hill Dr. Heartland Communications received multiple 911 calls and units enroute reported heavy smoke showing from a distance. E19 (San Miguel) was first-in reporting a well-established attic fire that had already burned through a portion of the roof.  Battalion 1 (Tockstein) assumed Incident Command and coordinated the actions of  the fire companies who deployed multiple hoselines to attack and extinguish the fire. In addition to aggressively attacking the fire, firefighters directed their efforts to salvaging as much of the homeowner's belongings as possible. Units assisting at this incident included E6, E8, E9, B3 (El Cajon); E4, R5, B2 (Santee); E1, E2, E3, E26s, M1, 4101, 4104, P412, P413 (Lakeside); 3382 (CalFire); Red Cross, SDG&E. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

This incident is another excellent example of the great inter-agency cooperation that we enjoy in east county.

Heavy smoke and fire showing on fire department arrival.

The crew from Engine 1 taking some of the heat out of the fire so crews could access the roof.

Firefighter from Engine 1 applies a combination of water an foam to the shake roof.

A firefighter applies water to the attic area from an exterior ladder.

Crews "peel back" the roof after the main fire is knocked down. Because of the high probability of hidden fires on shake shingle roofs, much of the burned area must be removed.

Story submitted by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire
Photo by: Battalion Chief Ron Laff, Lakeside Fire

Shooting Victim Transported to Trauma Center

El Monte: On Saturday, May 22nd, 2010 at 3:15 AM, one engine company and an ALS ambulance were dispatched to the 10200 blk of Lake Jennings Park Rd for a possible shooting victim.

On the arrival of Engine Company 3 and Medic 3 (Lake Jennings Station) they located a single victim that had suffered a gunshot wound to the lower back area. The male patient was also showing signs that the bullet may have caused injuries to the abdominal area. Crews initiated advanced life support and transported the victim to the trauma center at Sharp Memorial Hospital.

View Lakeside Incidents and Story Map in a larger map

The San Diego Sheriff Department is currently investigating the incident.

Submitted By: Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District

Rios Canyon Fuel Spill

Rios Canyon: On Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 at 6:59 PM, the Lakeside Fire District sent a single engine company to the area of Rios Canyon Rd and Pecan Park Ln to investigate a reported fuel leak in the area. On the arrival of Engine Company 3 (Lake Jennings Station) they discovered a significant diesel leak from a parked truck that had entered the flood control opening.

Diesel fuel stains the gutter on Rios Canyon Rd.

Crews initially diked the gutter and attempted to stop the flow of diesel fuel (to no avail). Crews slowed the flow of diesel and contacted the County of San Diego Hazardous Materials Department. A technician was dispatched to assist fire crews with mitigation efforts.

Crews became concerned when diesel was discovered inside of the underground flood control drainage. Battalion One (Battalion Chief Larkin) was requested to the scene to coordinate with the Hazardous Materials Department. 

Crews diked the opening to the flood control channel, but not before a limited amount entered the opening.

Lakeside Fire crews assisted with final clean-up and were committed to the incident for over two hours. Fuel was removed from the waterway, and the owner of the truck will arrange for final disposal of contaminated materials.

Just a reminder, in California the only thing that is allowed in gutters and flood control openings is rain water. 

Submitted By: Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire Protection District

Lakeside Search Dog Featured on Local News

Lakeside: Bella, the 2 year old black lab currently assigned to Lakeside Fire Engineer Rich Smith, was recently featured on a KFMB story about a FEMA sponsored "Canine Search Specialist Class" taking place in San Diego County. The week long course gives handlers and search team managers exposure to the abilities of these dogs. So unique are the abilities of these trained animals search teams often need to be exposed to the dogs to really grasp their full potential.

A portion of the class was held at the Lakeside Land Company, who opened up their property for this valued training.. Lakeside Land Co. has been a long time supporter of this program, and has provided space for local search dogs to train, including Bella.

SDFD USAR-CA TF-8 hosted the class. Currently there are 6 dogs assigned to this team. Bella is the black lab featured in the video.



Bella hopes to receive her FSA certification soon, which would allow her to be sent on incidents within California.. After that she will need to received advanced certification to be deployable outside of the state,.

Submitted By: Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District

High Angle Rescue Training

Firefighters train in high angle techniques.

 Even though there are few high-rise buildings in the East County, the Lakeside Fire Department requires that all firefighters be trained in some basic high angle rescue techniques. Aside from the rare emergency incident involving a tall building rescue in a neighboring agency, the same equipment and techniques are required for any situation where one might come in contact with a sheer vertical drop. A few such possibilities in or close to Lakeside include, bridges, sheer roadside drop-offs, rock climbing sites and power line towers. Since these incidents are so few and far between and the penalty for a mistake is so great, refresher training is a must to remain proficient in this highly technical skill.

Firefighter/Paramedic Danny Leetch looks calm checking his rigging high above the concrete.

 
This recent training was conducted at the Tom Owens Training Facility (TOTF) in El Cajon. The five story training tower is used to provide a realistic atmosphere to practice . One of the key safety features at the tower is a fall arresting net placed below the rope rescue side of the building. Although the net might look soft and safe from the ground, it looses much of it's comforting appeal from over 60' in the air. In fact, in the event of a fall, chances of death are reduced but serious injury is still likely.

Leetch evaluates his incapacitated victim under the watchful eye of Captain Beto Lawler. 

This drill was conducted to simulate a high angle rescue where an individual has become incapacitated or had an equipment failure requiring a rescuer to be lowered down to his position for assistance. Once in place, the rescuer is required to evaluate and secure the individual and then transfer him onto his own rescue rope system and both are lowered to safety. There are many steps, people and equipment involved in this process which needs to be coordinated and accomplished in a very specific order to result in a safe and successful outcome.

Secured to his rescue system, Leetch removes Captain Chuck Palmore from the damaged line.

Submitted by: Chuck Palmore, Lakeside Fire Captain

Photos by: Battalion Chief Brent Larkin and Engineer Rich Smith

Vehicle Accident With Trapped Victim

Crews from R3, M3 and E26s work to free the trapped driver.

On May 17th at 1811 hours R3,M3, B1 ,3382, and E26s responded to a vehicle into a tree in the 9500 block of Blossom Valley Road. Upon arrival , we found a
single occupant/driver entrapped in the vehicle that was surrounded by
poison oak. The patient had severe injuries, and due an extended
extrication (37 minutes), Mercy Air 6 was requested (3382 landed MA6).

Mercy Air 6 and crew await patient extrication.

 The vehicle initially appeared as though it was nearly encapsulated in
poison oak, assuring that all eleven LKS personnel would need
decontamination .

At 1854 patient was extricated, and loaded into MA6 for transport to Sharp Memorial.

Extensive work was required to free the driver from the wreckage.

A comprehensive decontamination operation to remove poison oak "oils"
followed of all personnel , all turnouts and protective clothing , as
well as all extrication equipment used . All scene personnel were kept
"incident assigned" until decontamination was complete . This incident
is a great reminder of why we provide our personnel with a "back-up"
set of turnouts, as all incident worn turnouts required
decontamination followed by machine washing.

With decontamination, the incident lasted 3 hours.

Text and Photos Submitted By: Brent Larkin, Battalion Chief Lakedside FD