Lakeside Firefighters Assist with Vehicle Extrication In Crest

Crest:  Just after 6:30 p.m. on March 27, 2011, Lakeside Fire Battalion 1 and Rescue 3 (Lake Jennings Fire Station) were dispatched to assist the Battalion 6,  E18, E19 and M17 with a rollover vehicle accident at the intersection of La Cresta Blvd near the top of the grade in Crest.

The underside of the Ferrari

While enroute, R3 learned that this was a rollover vehicle accident involving a Ferrari and extrication would be needed to remove the patients from the car.  On scene, it was discovered that the vehicle was on its roof with two occupants trapped inside.

Extrication was initiated in conjunction with medical treatment of the patients.  In an extrication with a vehicle on its roof, there are additional steps which must be taken to ensure patient safety.  The vehicle must first be stabilized so it does not come down on the patients as the roof is removed.  As you can see from the photos, there are several tools used to complete this process.  In this instance, crews used lifting bags, crib stacks (the stacked 4x4's in the picture), and stabilizing struts to elevate the vehicle enough to gain access to the patients.

This example is precisely why Lakeside Fire Protection District has a dedicated Rescue unit that is essentially a mobile tool box with equipment available to tackle even the toughest extrications.

The patients were extricated from the vehicle and transported to an area hospital. CHP is investigating the accident.

Photos and Story Submitted By:  Firefighter / Paramedic Danny Leetch

Lakeside and CalFire Hold Joint Training in El Monte Valley

El Monte Valley: After weeks of training and pre-planning, firefighters were called out on a realistic training incident on the new El Monte Park Trail. Crews were dispatched when a recreational hiker called stating he had found a mountain bike on the trail and could hear calls for help from a canyon area.

Lakeside and CalFire personnel arrive at the incident and start the task of establishing a rope system.

 After making cell phone contact with the reporting party, it was determined that the patient would have to be accessed from the Creek Hills Rd trailhead. Initially, the firefighter-paramedics from Medic 3 were sent into the area as part of a FAST Team. It's their job to locate the victim, make requests for specific equipment, and initiate care.

Firefighter-Paramedic Chris Williams, Josh Wilson, and Jose Corona wait to be lowered into the canyon area.

Because the patient had left the trail and ended up in a canyon area, the decision was made to establish a rope system to retrieve the victim and bring him back to the trail for extraction. A team of rescuers departed the trailhead with the equipment necessary to complete the rescue. A combined crew of Lakeside Fire and CalFire personnel arrived in the area and quickly set-up a technical rope system.

Crews secure the patient to the stokes basket for the ascent back to the trail.

The victim was brought back to the trail where a wheel was attached to the stokes basket for the one-mile hike out through a series of switchbacks. Ultimately the objective was to bring the patient to El Monte Park for rendezvous with ground units. 

The patient and crew members are pulled back out of the canyon area.

After the patient was retrieved, crews began the long hike out to El Monte Park. The entire operation took about two hours to complete. While two hours sounds like a long time, logistically these incidents are quite complex and can literally take hours to complete.

Lakeside and CalFire crew members start the haul out of the victim. Once the victim had been removed from the canyon crews were able to quickly deliver him at the park.

This drill allowed firefighters the opportunity to work together in this remote locations. Additionally, new (aspiring) officers are given the opportunity to take command roles to prepare themselves for future promotions. Today's Incident Commander was Acting Captain Eric Stamm.

Participating units were Battalion 1, Rescue 3 and Medic 3 (Lake Jennings Station), Engine 1 (Riverview Station), and CalFire 3382 (Flinn Springs Station).

Submitted By: Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District

Teenager on Bike Struck by Vehicle

Johnstown: On Tuesday, March 22, 2011, at 5:10 p.m., the Lakeside Fire Protection District received a call about a teenager that had been struck by a vehicle in the 14000 block of Ridgehill Rd. A structural engine company,  rescue company, and an ALS ambulance were dispatched to the incident.

Crews pick-up after the victim was transported to Children's.

On the arrival of Rescue 3 (Lake Jennings Fire Station), firefighters discovered a patient down in the roadway with multiple traumatic injuries. The crew on the rescue company initiated an assessment and ALS level care until the arrival of Medic 3 who was returning from a previous incident.

The victim's bike still lodged under the vehicle.

The patient presented with both head and spinal injuries. Crews quickly loaded the patient for transport to the trauma unit at Children's Hospital.

Currently CHP is investigating the accident. A total of 9 Lakeside personnel were assigned to this call.

Riverpark Fire Station Update

Lakeside: The new Lakeside Fire Protection District River Park Fire Facility is coming out of the ground! After months of groundwork, site development, and preparation, our building is starting to take shape.

A large crane (from a local crane operator) placed the steel columns for the apparatus parking area yesterday. These posts will hold up the complex roof structure for the facility. This facility is a project of the District in cooperation with San Diego County's Upper San Diego River Improvement Redevelopment Area.

This $10 million dollar facility is adding good jobs to the construction industry right here in Lakeside. Look for the grand opening of our facility in January of 2012.



Submitted By: Fire Chief Andy Parr

Motorcycle Crash Results in Fatality

Lakeside, CA - 

Firefighters from Lakeside's Lake Jennings (fs3) and Riverview (fs1) fire stations responded to a late-night motorcycle accident on Thursday, March 17, 2011. The rider and passenger failed to negotiate a turn and left the roadway on Los Coches Road near Ha Hana Road. Firefighter-Paramedics transported one patient to an area trauma center. Tragically, one person suffered fatal injuries.

Units attending this incident included E1, R3, M3, and Battalion 1. CHP is investigating the accident.



Submitted by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District

Time to Change Those Smoke Alarm Batteries

Lakeside, CA -



Yes, it's that time of the year again. Time to change those smoke alarm batteries. When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast and you need smoke alarms to give you time to get out. Here are some smoke alarm safety tips:

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
• An ionization smoke alarm is generally more responsive to flaming fires, and a photoelectric smoke alarm is generally more responsive to smoldering fires. For the best protection, both types of alarms or a combination alarm (photoelectric and ionization) should be installed in homes.
• Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
• Smoke rises; install smoke alarms following manufacturer's instructions high on a wall or on a ceiling. Save manufacturer's instructions for testing and maintenance.
• Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year. If an alarm “chirps”, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.
• Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they are 10 year old or sooner if they do not respond properly.
• Be sure the smoke alarm has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
• Alarms that are hard-wired (and include battery backup) must be installed by a qualified electrician.
• If cooking fumes or steam sets off nuisance alarms, replace the alarm with an alarm that has a "hush" button. A "hush" button will reduce the alarm’s sensitivity for a short period of time.
• An ionization alarm with a hush button or a photoelectric alarm should be used if the alarm is within 20 feet of a cooking appliance.
• Smoke alarms that include a recordable voice announcement in addition to the usual alarm sound, may be helpful in waking children through the use of a familiar voice.
• Smoke alarms are available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing . These devices use strobe lights. Vibration devices can be added to these alarms
• Smoke alarms are an important part of a home fire escape plan.

Submitted by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District

Engine 2 Visits EAK Class at Riverview Elementary

Lakeside: On Friday, March 11, 2011, Lakeside Firefighters payed a visit to the EAK class at Riverview Elementary School. Many of these pre-K students said this was their first time being able to see and touch a fire engine up close; a very exciting time for them indeed.

Firefighter-Paramedic Bryan Peters shows Engine 2 to a very attentive class.

 These young students were introduced to the importance of fire safety, stop drop and roll, EDITH ( exit drills in the home), and the job of a firefighter. The kids many questions showed they are never too young to begin learning about the dangers of fire.

Bryan shows the kids the gear used by firefighters when fighting fires.

 Submitted By: Firefighter-Paramedic Bryan Peters, Lakeside Fire District

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