$5672 Raised for Muscular Dystrophy Association

Lakeside, CA -

Due to the generosity of our residents, Lakeside Fire Fighters raised a whopping $5672 during the annual "Fill the Boot" fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The funds raised yesterday morning (March 27, 2014), will go directly toward MDA San Diego services including their clinic at Rady Children's Hospital and the annual summer camp in Descanso.

Your firefighters are always amazed and humbled at the continuing generosity of the Lakeside community during our annual fundraisers. We feel honored and privileged to serve such a wonderful community. Thank You Lakeside!

Lakeside Fire Fighters showing off their muscles!

Post By: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District

Fire in Apartment Complex Brings Full Response

Lakeside, CA -

A strong smell of smoke prompted a Lakeside resident to call for the fire department early on the morning of March 28, 2014. Lakeside Firefighters were alerted at their stations at 3:47 a.m. for a possible fire in a large apartment complex on Ashwood Street. Lakeside Engines 1 (Riverview) and 2 (River Park) arrived in just under six minutes to find moderate smoke pushing from an outside electrical utility room. Firefighters established a water supply from a nearby fire hydrant and pulled attack lines for fire control. Residents from two adjacent apartments were quickly evacuated as firefighters opened up interior walls to search for the hidden fire. The fire was located in a wall behind the exterior water heater closet and was extinguished with a handline off of Engine 1. The rapid response coupled with quick actions kept this fire from extending into the adjacent occupied dwellings.

Units attending this incident included: E1, E2, M2, D4104 (Lakeside); E4, T4 (Santee); E19 (San Miguel). Lakeside would like to acknowledge the help of our automatic-aid partners in assisting on this incident. S.D. Sheriff's deputies also assisted with evacuations.

Engine 1 on scene.

The fire was in the wall here.

Attack line at the apartment door.

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

MDA "Fill the Boot" Fundraiser is Tomorrow

Lakeside, CA -

Lakeside Fire Fighters and members of the Lakeside Logistics Volunteer Group will be hitting the streets early tomorrow morning for the annual Firefighter Boot Drive to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.


Members of the Lakeside Fire Department along with the Muscular Dystrophy Association will host their annual Fill the Boot fundraising campaign to celebrate their 60-year partnership which benefits children and adults affected by muscle disease throughout the Lakeside and San Diego areas.

 Look for firefighters and their boots from 6:45 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the following locations in Lakeside:

•           Woodside Ave. and Winter Gardens Blvd

•           Los Coches Rd. and Highway 8 Business

•           Lake Jennings Rd. and Olde Highway 80

Post by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District

Lakeside Vehicle Rollover Results in Fatality

Lakeside, CA -

Firefighters responded to a report of a vehicle vs.structure in the 12400 block of Rockcrest Rd.on the evening of Sunday, March 23, 2014. Heartland Communications dispatched a full first-alarm structure assignment consisting of three engines, a truck, a rescue, a medic unit, and a duty chief. Lakeside Engine 1 (Riverview fire station) arrived in just under three minutes reporting a single vehicle rollover into the front yard of a residence with the vehicle resting on the driver's side. Despite the initial reports, the vehicle had not contacted the structure. The Engine 1 crew established initial stabilization of the vehicle and quickly determined the driver had suffered fatal injuries.

Firefighters from Engine 1 and Rescue 3 remained on scene for approximately 90 minutes to assist the county medical examiner personnel with the extrication of the driver. The CHP is investigating the cause of the accident.

The vehicle came to rest next to the house.

Firefighters waiting to go to work on extrication.

Post by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District
Photos by: Captain Wes Barnes, Lakeside Fire District

Engine One Visits Winter Gardens Elementary School

On Wednesday March 19, 2014, Lakeside Engine One (Riverview Station) went to Winter Gardens Elementary to conduct a show-and-tell with the kids from kindergarten. One of the many duties firefighters from the Lakeside Fire Protection District have to fulfill on a daily basis is community outreach and education. In an effort to enhance fire prevention in the community the Lakeside firefighters do many show-and-tells with local schools teaching children about fire safety in the home.

Firefighter-Paramedic Chris Williams demonstrates the protective gear firefighters wear at structure fires.

 Today’s show-and-tell discussed what number to call if you have an emergency, and what to do if your clothes catch on fire.  Every presentation has to be adjusted for our audience, today the kids enjoyed seeing  the equipment used by firefighters, and climbing on the engine.

If you have children in a school within the Lakeside Fire Protection District, ask your school to request a visit from the Lakeside Fire Department. Contact the department through our website at http://www.lakesidefire.net/ to set up an appointment.

Submitted By: Fire Captain Eric Stamm, Lakeside Fire District

Flinn Springs Motorcycle Accident Results in Multiple Patients

Flinn Springs-

On Friday, March 14, 2014, at 7:19 p.m., the Heartland Communications Center received a 911 call for a motorcycle versus vehicle in the intersection of Chimney Rock Lane and Olde Highway 80. Dispatched on the initial response were Engine 26 (Blossom Valley Station) and Medic 4 (Santee Fire-Cottonwood).

The aftermath of the accident that resulted in two seriously injured.

When Lakeside Engine 26 arrived at the scene firefighters discovered two juveniles both with major injuries. The two youths were riding on a dirt bike when the impact occurred.  Due to the severity of their injuries a request for an additional engine company and medic unit was made by Engine 26. This sent Engine 3 (Lake Jennings Station) and Medic 5 (Santee Fire-Carlton Oaks) to the incident to assist with patient care and transport.

Crews concentrated on stabilizing the victims prior to transport. Both victims were transported to Sharp Memorial Trauma with serious injuries.

CHP is investigating the accident.

Submitted By: Firefighter-Paramedic Steve Russo, Lakeside Fire District  

View 2014 Incident Map in a larger map

Lakeside Units Assist Alpine on Vehicle Rescue

Peutz Valley-

On Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at 5:25 p.m. the Heartland Communications Center received multiple 911 calls reference a vehicle that while traveling on westbound Interstate 8 had left the freeway near Peutz Valley. A full vehicle rescue assignment was dispatched which sent two structural engines, a rescue company, an ALS medic unit, and a duty chief to the incident.

Lakeside Fire crews stabilize the vehicle and then begin the task of extrication.

Crew members get close enough to the victim so initial medical care and be administered.

While en-route to the incident, responding units were updated that an off-duty tow truck driver was at the vehicle and it was accessible from the 400 block of Peutz Valley Rd. He also informed the dispatch center that there were multiple victims and some had suffered serious injuries. Based on the updated information, additional resources were assigned to the incident.

On the arrival of Engine 17 (Alpine Fire), firefighters located a vehicle that had left the freeway and had rolled down a 100-foot embankment. Prior to the arrival of fire units, bystanders had removed a two year old child and were rendering assistance to the toddler. But crews quickly discovered a front passenger that was trapped and a driver that was unresponsive.

With the victim out paramedics quickly start the task of administering advanced life support.

With the arrival of Rescue 3 (Lake Jennings Station) and Engine 26 (Blossom Valley Station), firefighters went to work on the trapped occupants. Due to the vehicle position and the major damage it had sustained, it was determined that this would be an extended operation with a number of complex situations that firefighters would need to address. 

Crews removed the passenger who was then was quickly loaded into Medic 3 (Lake Jennings Station) and driven to a nearby landing zone to meet with Mercy Air 6. The victim was flown to a local trauma center.

Unfortunately, crews quickly discovered the driver had succumbed to her injuries. Crews continued with the task of body recovery.

A total of 9 Lakeside personnel responded to the incident. CHP is currently investigating the incident.

Submitted By: Firefighter-Paramedic Steve Russo, Lakeside Fire District.   

View 2014 Incident Map in a larger map

Lakeside Firefighters Boot Drive in Support of Burn Institute

Lakeside, CA -

Lakeside Fire Fighters and members of the Lakeside Logistic Volunteer Group hit the street corners for the annual fund raiser for the Burn Institute. Every year firefighters from all over San Diego County hit the pavement in support of this organization. In the past, the Burn Institute has raised $230,000 from 44 fire agencies during this one-day event. Money raised goes to burn prevention and survivor  programs. Part of the contributions go to a special program where children in the 5-17 year old age bracket are sent to Camp Beyond the Scars. This special opportunity for the kids affected by fire is now in its 27th season.

Firefighter-Paramedic Steve Russo, on the crew from Lakeside Engine/Medic 3 at Highway 8 Business and Los Coches Rd.

Father and son team. Fire Engineer Rich Smith (left) demonstrating the fine art of a boot drive to his son, Reserve-Firefighter Cameron Smith.

Locally here in Lakeside we managed to collect an impressive $6,500 from the community. Congratulations Lakeside!

The firefighters will be back on the street corners in the very near future gathering contributions for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. That event will take place on March 27th.

Submitted By: Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District

Lakeside Paramedics Now Have a Powerful Tool in Cardiac Care

Lakeside EMS-

In the mid-1970’s when the Lakeside and Santee Fire agencies rolled out the paramedic program you had to be an accomplished weight lifter just to get the equipment in the door. Between a radio that felt like it had a car battery in it, and a monitor-defibrillator, which was the size of a medium suit case, paramedics found themselves using equipment that had not been well designed for field use. But through design change, and technology, the equipment slowly became smaller in size but yet more powerful in the information it provided the paramedic team.

In the 1970's this was state of the art in cardiac care.

 Over the past two decades there has been a quantum change in how paramedics treat suspected heart related emergencies in the field. Over time the treatment has been streamlined to provide aggressive initial care coupled with rapid transport to an appropriate facility.

But as treatment guidelines changed the industry was challenged to produce a device that would meet the constantly evolving guidelines for cardiac care. These devices had to be extremely portable and provide a broad array of informational feedback on the condition of the patient. Plus this new device had to possess the ability to relay information to the hospital where doctors could begin the task of outlining a plan of care once the patient arrived at the hospital.

Recently the Lakeside Fire Protection District purchased eleven of the most advanced cardiac monitor/defibrillators available in the marketplace. The Zoll X-Series represents a blend of technology with functionality. When applied to the patient it can provide a limitless amount of information to first responders during field treatment.

The Zoll X-Series arrive at Lakeside River Park Station. (Photo By: Bernie Molloy)

As a cardiac monitor the Zoll X-Series can monitor simple cardiac rhythms. But this monitor also possesses the ability to obtain a complex 12-lead EKG where advanced processors can analyze the rhythm and provide important information to the paramedics.If there is a high degree of suspicion that the patient is suffering a heart attack the paramedics can activate a link between the monitor and the hospital. Utilizing WiFi technology the monitor talks with the engine company, or paramedic unit, which serves as a WiFi hotspot. By utilizing the apparatus as the WiFi access points the Lakeside Fire District was able to reduce costs by using a single provider for data services.

Once the data is received at the hospital it can be forwarded to the doctors wireless devices where they can see the actual 12 lead EKG, and receive information about the patient they are about to treat.

As a defibrillator the X-Series provides hands-off defibrillation through the use of specialized adhesive pads. These pads can also be used to detect cardiac activity, and in the event that the heart rate is too slow it can provide external cardiac pacing.

Firefighter-Paramedic Jon Jordan with the new Zoll X-Series on Medic 3 (Lake Jennings Fire Station)

In addition the X-Series can monitor the amount of oxygen in your blood stream, and the amount of carbon dioxide in your expired breath. These are two very important pieces of information when treating cardiac arrest victims. These devices will even obtain a blood pressure and record the information for later documentation.

These new monitors give EMS crews a whole new set of tools in treating cardiac related incidents. All Lakeside medic units, and engine companies, have the new generation monitors.

Submitted By: Fire Fighter-Paramedic Jon Jordan, Lakeside Fire District

Story Contributors: Division Chief Jim Kirkpatrick, Fire Captain Bernie Molloy, Fire Captain Mark Grow

Motor Home Fire on Rockcrest Road

 Winter Gardens-

On Thursday, March 6th, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. the Lakeside Fire Protection District received a 911 call reference a motor home on fire near a dwelling in the 12100 block of Rockcrest Rd. Initially dispatched to the incident were two structural engines and a duty chief.

On the arrival of Engine 1 (Riverview Station) they located a fully engulfed motor home near a residential structure. Crews pulled attack lines and worked on preventing extension of the fire into the home. With the arrival of Engine 2 (River Park Station) crews were able to bring the fire under control. 

Crews remained on-scene for another hour assisting in the salvage of property damaged by the fire. Fortunately the motor home was unoccupied and no injuries were reported.

A total of 7 Lakeside personnel responded to the fire. Cause of the fire is under investigation.

Submitted By: Fire Captain Eric Stamm, Lakeside Fire Protection District

View 2014 Incident Map in a larger map