Danny Leetch Takes Third at 2014 Firefighters Demolition Derby

San Diego County Fair-

On June 7, 2014, firefighters from San Diego and Orange Counties gathered at the 24th annual Firefighters Demolition Derby at the San Diego County Fair. This annual event has a historical past of pitting the skills of firefighters against one another in this much anticipated event.

The event is conducted in support of the Burn Institute, and the work they do in burn prevention/recovery programs.

After last year's event, Lakeside Firefighter-Paramedic Danny Leetch had brought his car (the "2-20") back to life. Having suffered marginal damage after a distributor cap was sheared off early in the event, it seemed logical to restore the car and give it another shot this year.

In this year's first heat, the 2-20 suffered some pretty severe body damage to the rear of the vehicle, but fortunately it was still strong mechanically. After some quick repairs in the pits, the crew was ready for the final event.

Danny puts a pretty hard hit on the National City entry.

It was pretty evident from the beginning that the final event was going to be a hard fought battle to take the first place trophy. Cars quickly were knocked out of completion with a number of hard hits. At one point the race was suspended when Danny managed to put the 2-20 on top of another vehicle. After the assistance of a backhoe the race was back on.

Danny Leetch with the third place trophy.

The 2-20 showed promise that another win was in the making but after a punishing hit by another vehicle the drive train had suffered race-ending damage.

But in the end, Danny had captured the third place trophy in a very competitive event. Danny has already set out on a plan to field a new entry next year.

Our thanks to the sponsors of the 2-20 entry:

Lakeside Firefighters Local 4488
Famulare Jewelers
Highway 67 Truck
Sparky's Transmission
A&A Muffler
Elite Auto 
Discount Signs and Banners
Santana High School - Auto Body 

Congratulations to the Imperial Beach Firefighters with their first place finish.

We apologize for the audio issues on the video presentation.



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

Paramedic Trainee Successfully Completes Internship

Lakeside, CA -

Paramedic Trainee Joe McNally successfully completed his field internship at Lakeside fire station 3 on June 4, 2014. Joe was assigned to Medic 3 and completed a total of 576 hours (24 shifts) with paramedic preceptors Brian Moore and Steve Russo responding to calls from the Lake Jennings fire station. The rigorous field-portion of paramedic training is Joe's final hurdle to gaining licensure as a California paramedic.

California paramedic training is among the most rigorous in the country. Most programs require more than 1200 hours of training including didactic, hospital clinical, and the field internship.

Lakeside Firefighter-Paramedics have been helping train interns for more than 30 years. Lakeside Firefighters wish Joe all the best as he begins his new career as a paramedic.

Intern Joe McNally (l) with preceptor FF-PM Brian Moore.

HWY 67 Closed for Major Traffic Collision

Lakeside, CA -

On Friday May 30, 2014, at approximately 3:15 in the afternoon units were requested to respond to Hwy 67 northbound to reports of a head on collision just south of Winter Gardens Blvd.  Lakeside Engine 1 arrived on scene and found two vehicles with major damage, each of which had trapped victims inside.  Additional resources were immediately requested due to the large workload that would be required to extricate multiple patients from separate vehicles.

View 2014 Incident Map in a larger map

The incident, which was being directed by Lakeside Division Chief 4104, utilized engines from Lakeside, Santee, and El Cajon.  Two rescue units were also assigned, Santee R5 and Lakeside R3 from the Lake Jennings Fire Station.  The two patients were in critical condition meaning they would require separate transporting units so two ALS units were requested as well as Mercy Air 6.  

Crews work to extricate patients from separate vehicles

A large quantity of debris was strewn from the accident site

The accident scene was strewn with the contents of both vehicles, a sign of how much energy was involved in the collision.  Hwy 67 had to be completely closed due to the large volume of debris that resulting from the accident.  The closed freeway provided the ability for the fire and law enforcement crews to work safely while extricating the patients.  The road closure also allowed for a very close landing zone for Mercy Air 6.  It is rare to see a medical helicopter set down on a major interstate in San Diego County in the middle of rush hour traffic.  The helicopter, along with the seriousness of the accident, drew crowds of people to the side of the road to watch the incident.

One patient was extricated quickly and immediately transported by Santee Medic 4 to an area trauma center.  The other patient took longer to extricate so Mercy Air 6 was utilized to provide transport to the trauma center.  Once the patients were extricated and the incident was stabilized the California Highway Patrol took over the scene and began an accident investigation.

Mercy Air 6 set down on the closed portion of HWY 67

Photos / Video and Story by Captain Bernie Molloy

Jet Ski Fire Sends One to Burn Center

Johnstown-

On Wednesday, May 28, 2014, at 2:41 p.m. the Heartland Communications Center received a 911 call about a jet ski on fire in the garage of a residence in the 9300 block of Ashley View Pl. A full structural response was initiated that sent three engine companies, one truck company, an ALS medic unit, and a staff officer to the incident.

On the arrival of Engine 3 (Lake Jennings Fire Station), firefighters observed smoke showing from the attached garage of a residential structure. After securing a water supply from a nearby hydrant, crews advanced an attack line into the garage. It was quickly discovered that the fire was isolated to a jet ski. The fire was quickly controlled with a preconnected handline off of E3.

Fire damage to the jet ski was extensive.

Fire crews then discovered that an occupant had suffered flash burns to his upper body. After assessing the injuries the juvenile was transported to the UCSD Burn Center for further evaluation and treatment. The injuries are considered non-life threatening.

Firefighters overhauled the fire and checked for extension into the structure. No structural damage was discovered.

Submitted By: Fire Captain Wes Barnes, Lakeside Fire Protection District

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New Employees Receive their Badges

Lakeside River Park Fire Complex-

At the May 27, 2014, Lakeside Fire District Board meeting two recently hired employees received their badges from Fire Chief Andy Parr. The two employees were recently hired from the Lakeside Reserve Firefighter program to full-time positions as Firefighter-Paramedics.

Chad Murray

Chad spent his youth growing up in the Alpine area of the East County. He graduated from Granite Hills High School and then departed on a number of jobs to prepare him for employment in the fire service. Chad has worked as a reserve firefighter with other agencies, and has worked in the pre-hospital field.

Chad receives his badge from his father.

Chad recently graduated from the 25th Heartland Academy where he teamed up with Shane Daunis as squad team members.

Chad was presented with his badge by his father. Both Mom and Dad were in attendance.

Chad with his father and mother after the presentation.

Welcome to the Lakeside family.

Shane Daunis

Shane is 26 years old and was raised in the community of Santee under the careful guidance from his parents Debbie and Fred. Shane has a younger sister, Elle, which undoubtly kept him on his toes.

Shane receives his badge from his father Fred Daunis who served with the Santee Fire Department.

During his time at West Hills High School he enrolled in ROP Fire Science classes. Mined into that schedule was time for swim team and water polo sports. After high school it was off to Miramar College to continue with fire science classes. Soon he was accepted to Southwestern College's paramedic program.

After certification as a paramedic he worked for AMR. Soon he was accepted into the Lakeside Fire District's reserve program. Shortly after being accepted he was enrolled in the 25th Heartland Academy.

Shane with his mother Debbie, father Fred, fiance Caitlin, and sister Elle.

Upon graduating from the academy he was offered a fulltime employment with the Lakeside Fire District. Employment with Lakeside had been a long held dream as his father (Fred) frequently worked out of the Riverview fire station when Medic One was crossed staffed with one Lakeside, and one Santee, firefighter-paramedic. Shane grew up listening to stories his father would bring home about working with the two agencies.

 Shane is also engaged to longtime high school sweetie Caitlin.

Welcome to the Lakeside family Shane.

New firefighters in Lakeside must complete a rigorous one-year probationary period which is part of a comprehensive 36-month step training program.

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

A Busy Sunday for Lakeside Firefighters

Lakeside, CA - 

A series of vegetation fires kept Lakeside firefighters busy on Sunday, May 25, 2014. The first fire was reported just before 1:00 p.m. in the area of Highway 67 and Lorraine Ct., just south of Scripps Poway Parkway. Heartland Fire Communications dispatched a wildland fire resource response including E1, E2, WT7251, M2, and Div 4106 (Lakeside); Br4 (Santee). Due to the location in State Responsibility Area (SRA), CalFire also dispatched a full wildland resource response including aircraft.

Arriving firefighters discovered a well-established vegetation fire making an uphill run toward a home on Lorraine Ct. Lakeside Engines 1 and 2 were assigned to structure defense while the wildland (type III) engines started  progressive hoselays on the right and left flanks of the fire to begin extinguishment and containment. An S-2 airtanker from the nearby Ramona Air Attack base made several pinpoint retardant drops to hold the fire in check and protect the threatened home. Additionally, County helicopters 10 and 12 arrived and provided water drops to slow the forward spread of the fire. Assigned resources were able to pick this fire up at only a few acres with no structures damaged.

Smoke showing from a distance.

Engines 1 and 2 in structure defense positions.

FFs on Division X mopping up.

As the first fire was being mopped-up, another wildland response was dispatched with numerous callers reporting multiple fires in the vegetation on the west side of Winter Gardens Blvd. between Gardena Rd. and Golden Ridge Rd. With multiple engines approaching the area from both the south and the north, firefighters stopped and took action when they encountered a fire. The largest of these multiple fires was on a  hillside lot with numerous structures nearby. Lakeside Engine 1 (who was returning from the Hwy 67 incident) and Santee Engine 4, attacked the fire from the north flank while Heartland Fire-Rescue Engine 9 started a hoselay on the south flank. Firefighters quickly had a knockdown on the fire and went to work on containment and mop-up.

FFs mop up on Division Zulu.

Lakeside Division 4106 (r) was Incident Commander with assistance from CalFire Battalion 3316.

These fire incidents demonstrate the strong mutual and automatic aid agreements that ensure the provision of seamless emergency response services to our district residents. Lakeside Fire would like to acknowledge our regional partners for their timely assistance: Santee Fire, San Miguel Fire, Barona Fire, Heartland Fire-Rescue, San Diego Fire-Rescue, CalFire, and San Diego Sheriff's Department.

All fires are currently under investigation.

Post and photos by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District.

Firefighters Rescue Man Injured in Flood Channel

Lakeside:

Early on the morning on May 23, 2014 Lakeside Engine 1 and Medic 2 were called for reports of a person that had fallen into the flood channel under Hwy 67.

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Engine 1 arrived, and with the assistance of the SDSO, were able to locate the patient. The patient was a male that was injured in the bottom of the flood channel that runs under Hwy 67.  The patient had fallen approximately 20 + feet to the concrete bottom of the flood channel.

The patient fell onto the concrete from the edged of the channel.

To access the patient crews had to place a ladder into the channel and descend it.  Once the patient was accessed it was clear that he would need to be placed in spinal precautions because of his injuries.  The spinal precautions combined with the high vertical walls of the channel meant the patient would have to be hoisted out of the flood channel in a stokes basket on a backboard.   Engine 1 requested that Rescue 3 respond to the scene to bring the necessary equipment to move the patient.

R3 crews work to set up a mechanical lifting system

The lifting system requires a long section of rope and a great deal of specialized hardware

Rescue 3 arrived at the scene and assisted the crews on scene with setting up a ladder-slide and a rope lifting system that would provide a mechanical advantage to pull the patient out of the flood channel.  Once the patient was lifted out of the channel he was transported to the hospital by M2.

Once the patient was up he was moved to a gurney for transport to the medic unit 

This call was an example of one of the technical rescue situations Lakeside firefighters are capable of carrying out.  It is a low-frequency high-risk situation that requires regular training and review to stay proficient with these skills.  This rescue was carried out without any issues and the patient was successfully removed from the channel and transported to the hospital.

R3 and E1 crews put the rescue equipment back onto Rescue 3 after the call

Photos and story by Captain Bernie Molloy

Sterling Fire Threatens area Structures

Glenview-

On Wednesday, May 14, 2014, at 4:59 p.m. the Heartland Communications Center received a report of a vegetation fire in the area of the 12900 block of Highway 8 Business in the Glenview area. Given the severe weather conditions, a high wildland response was dispatched which sends multiple resources to the fire.

Fire jumps Highway 8 Business and starts it's uphill run towards homes. (Photo By: Ken Kremensky, Barona FD)

On the arrival of Lakeside Division Chief Chuck Tockstein, he found a fire on the south side of the highway making a run towards the north. Within minutes the fire had jumped Highway 8 Business and was making an uphill run towards multiple homes in the Sterling Drive and Jackson Hill Drive areas. An immediate request was placed for a strike team of engines to respond to those areas and take up structural defense positions.

Fire approaches homes off Sterling Drive. (Photo By: Ken Kremensky, Barona FD)

An engine from Heartland Fire & Rescue takes up a position on a structure on Sterling Drive. (Photo By: Todd Welch, Lakeside FD)

Firefighters took up positions to start hose lays to cut off further extension of the fire. But in the midst of the fire attack there was a wind change which now sent the fire towards homes in the 13000 block of Highway 8 Business. Another strike team was requested and took up structural defense positions in a nearby mobile home park.

Lakeside Brush 201 arrives at the Sterling Fire. (Photo By: Nathan Price)

Lakeside crews putting in a hose lay on the eastern flank. (Photo By: Todd Welch, Lakeside FD)

Due to multiple campaign fires in the San Diego County area there was no air assets or hand crews available to assist.

Crews continued to advance hose lays around the fire and at 6:57 p.m. the Incident Commander declared that the forward progress of the fire had been stopped. Although the active burning had stopped, firefighters now faced the task of an extensive overhaul. A number of crews spent the night on the line overhauling hot spots and patrolling the fire area.

A firefighter in the "green" as the fire front approaches. (Photo By: Todd Welch, Lakeside FD)

Overhaul extended well throughout the daylight hours the next day. Crews continued to overhaul hot spots and remove trees that had created a hazard. The Lakeside Logistic Volunteers provided fire support throughout the incident.

This burn pattern is know by firefighters as "Moonscaping." It's when everything in the fire's path is consumed. This is normally seen in August, not May.

During this incident Lakeside Fire received assistance from:

• Barona Fire
• Alpine Fire
• Heartland Fire & Rescue
• Santee Fire
• Sycuan Fire
• Bonita Fire
• Viejas Fire
• USFS
• Lakeside LVG's
• San Diego Sheriff Department
• California Highway Patrol

Submitted By: Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire Protection District.
Photos Provided By: Fire Chief Ken Kremensky, Barona Fire Department and Todd Welch, Lakeside Fire Protection District, Nathan Price
Video By: Bill Prorok

View 2014 Incident Map in a larger map