Multiple small brush fires along Interstate Highway 8 brought a multi-agency response on Tuesday, August 30, 2011. Four separate fires were reported between Dunbar Lane and Tavern Road just after 2:30 p.m. Alpine Battalion 7 (Rushing) requested a high-wildland resource dispatch and along with Alpine 4701 (Paskle), coordinated the placement of incoming fire units to handle the four simultaneous fires. Additional chief officers from Lakeside, CalFire, and U.S. Forest Service responded to assist Tavern Incident Command with the direction of the numerous fire units assigned to the fires.
While the fires were relatively small in size, the smoke blowing across both east and westbound lanes created a real hazard for drivers on I-8. Heartland Fire Communications dispatched Central Zone firefighters from Lakeside (B1, Br2, Br26, E3), Viejas (E25, Br225), Alpine (E17), San Miguel (E19), and El Cajon (E8). Additional resources responded from CalFire, U.S. Forest Service, BLM, and San Diego County Fire Authority. Two water-dropping helicopters were also assigned to the fires.
The rapid response and quick coordination of the assigned resources kept these fires from becoming a potentially much larger blaze.
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| Lakeside Engine 3 operates on I-8. |
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| Lakeside Firefighter Shawn McKenna cutting line with a chainsaw. |
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| Lakeside Engineer-Paramedic Chris Downing mops-up one of the fires. |
Photos and story by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District
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