Lakeside Fire Units Respond to Structure Fire in Santee

Santee, CA -

Lakeside Fire crews were dispatched at 2:07 p.m. on July 12, 2011, to a structure fire on the border of Santee and Lakeside on Fonteyn Ct.  Engine 1 (Riverview Station) and Engine 2 (Eucalyptus Hills Station) were on the initial dispatch along with Battalion 2, Engine, Rescue,and M5 from Santee, and Truck 11 from La Mesa.

Crews from E2 move to the roof to ventilate the structure

Engine 1 was the initial unit on scene and found heavy smoke and fire coming from the front of the structure with residents attempting to suppress the fire with garden hoses.  E1 was able to lay a 4 inch supply line and start an initial attack on the fire with the help of E5 who had also arrived on scene.  E2 was assigned to the roof to perform vertical ventilation to help exhaust the heat, smoke, and fire gases from the structure.  

The fire was found to be only in the garage and it was kept from extending into the primary structure with a combination of the aggressive fire attack and timely ventilation.  The fire burned deeply into the rafters which compromised the integrity of the roof so crews had to improvise a way to remove the roof tile and check for fire extension.

Crews work from the ladder

The 24 foot extension ladder, as seen in the photo above, provided a platform for crews to begin removing the roof tiles with pike poles and rubbish hooks (tools of the trade).  Not enough of the structure could be accessed from the ladder so the decision was made to use the aerial ladder from Truck 11 to continue the work.  

The boom is moved in

Work continues from an elevated platform

The fire was extinguished with units from the first alarm.  The cause of the fire is under investigation by the San Diego Sheriff's Department Arson Unit.

Story and Photos by: Engineer/Paramedic Bernie Molloy