Central Zone firefighters were alerted to a vegetation fire just before 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 6, 2013. Heartland Fire Communications dispatched a high wildland resource assignment after receiving numerous calls reporting a fire on the hillside near the 10400 of Aquilla Drive in Lakeside. Initial responding units reported smoke visible from a distance indicating a working vegetation fire.
Engine 4 (SNT) arrived on scene first and reported approximately 1 acre of vegetation burning on the hillside behind homes on Aquilla Drive. Lakeside Division 4106 (Kirkpatrick) arrived and assumed Incident Command (Aquilla IC), directing arriving fire crews to initiate fire attack on each flank of the fire. As this area of the Lakeside Fire District is also designated as state responsibility area (SRA), CalFire also initiated a wildland resource response including aircraft.
Air tankers made several retardant drops to slow the forward spread of the fire, allowing firefighters on the ground to eventually surround the fire with hoselays. Helicopters supported the ground forces with water drops. As a further precaution, the IC ordered a strike team of type I engines to the Eucalyptus Hills area to prepare for structure defense if needed.
The rapid response and immediate commitment of fire resources held this fire to approximately 15 acres with no damage to structures and no civilian injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Central Zone resources assigned to this incident included: E2, E3, WT7251, Div. 4106, Div. 4105, Div. 4103, Chief 4101, Support 4140 (Lakeside); E4, Br4, E5, E204 (Santee); E6, E8, E9, Batt. 3 (Heartland Fire-Rescue); Br27, Chief 4801 (Barona).
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| Fire runs up drainage behind structures. (Photo By: David Worsham) |
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| A Cal Fire air tanker makes a hard bank while making a drop. (Photo By: Jeff Holz) |
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| A lone firefighter is dwarfed by the massive boulders on the hillside. (Photo By: Jeff Holz) |
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| Firefighters navigate through challenging terrain while putting in a hose lay. (Photo By: Jeff Holz) |
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| Keli Bedford-Owen caught this shot of Copter 12 working the perimeter of the fire. |
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| With the sound of approaching aircraft Lisa Ball's daughter grabbed the camera an caught this S2t working the west flank. |
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| With a load of retardant suspended in air this S2t continues to maneuver down a predetermined path. This image was caught by Shannon Dixon-Jackson |
Post by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District
Photos by: David Worsham, Jeff Holz, Keli Bedford-Owen, Lisa Ball's daughter, and Shannon Dixon-Jackson
UPDATE: final acreage for fire was estimated at 28 acres.
Thank you Firefighters! You did an awesome job at putting out the fire. we are 2 streets down from where the fire started. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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