Lakeside Fire Participates in Multi-Agency Training

Interstate 8 View Point-

The Scenario: A vehicle has left the freeway and plummeted 200 feet into a canyon. The occupant has a broken leg and requires immediate attention from medical personnel.

Crews stand ready to pull the crew up from 200 feet below.

That was the scenario presented to crews from Lakeside, Viejas, San Diego County Fire Authority, Alpine, and Sycuan during a training exercise held at the view point on Interstate 8 east of Alpine. These types of operations require careful attention to detail as crew safety is dependent on a properly constructed rope system. Should this system have a catastrophic failure the safety of crew members on the rope could be compromised, so we practice.

A crew prepares a victim to be raised up in a basket while medic tend to their injuries.

Crews met during three training exercises to refresh skills that are not commonly used. But just weeks ago crews were called to this very location for a vehicle that had broken through the barrier wall and ended up in the canyon below. A haunting reminder of this incident remains as crews were lowered to an area near the wreckage..

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