Cedar Fire Monument Construction Making Progress

Lakeside, Calif.-

If you have driven by Lakeside's River Park Fire Station (fs2), you may have noticed that the construction of the Cedar Fire Monument is progressing.  Completion is scheduled June 2015, and the dedication ceremony is tentatively scheduled for October 26, 2015.  The Lakeside Fire Protection District wishes to thank EC Constructors of Lakeside for their help in making this monument a permanent reminder of what our community endured during those horrific days in October, 2003.

To view what the finished site will look like, CLICK HERE.

The beginning layout.

Concrete forms are built for wall seating.

Footing for stone monument.

Setting of the center point stone monument.

Lakeside Firefighters Extinguish Restaurant Fire

Lakeside, Calif. -

A fire in the kitchen of a local restaurant was extinguished by Lakeside firefighters on Tuesday, April 28, 2015. Heartland Communications dispatchers received a 911 call from an employee reporting the fire in the 10000 block of Maine Avenue. The fire dispatcher quickly processed the call and alerted firefighters in less than 30-seconds, getting a full commercial structure fire resource assignment enroute to this incident.

Lakeside Fire Chief Andy Parr (4101) arrived on scene in under six minutes reporting a working fire in the restaurant kitchen. Lakeside Engine 1 arrived simultaneously and was directed to establish a water supply from a nearby hydrant and stretch a hoseline to attack the fire. Subsequent fire companies arrived and supported the fire attack operation. The fire was quickly extinguished with limited extension to the rest of the occupancy. There were no injuries on this incident. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

This incident demonstrates the seamless nature of the 911 emergency response system we enjoy in east county. The Heartland Communications dispatchers answered the 911 call and, using their state-of-the-art Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, immediately processed the information while quickly alerting the closest available fire resources. Once alerted, firefighters rapidly got enroute to the incident. In this case, firefighters were on the scene of this fire in less than six minutes after the 911 call was answered by the dispatcher.

As always, Lakeside Fire would like to acknowledge our automatic-aid partners for their assistance on this fire. Agencies assisting on this incident included: E4 (Santee); T6 (Heartland Fire-Rescue); E7619 (San Miguel). Lakeside units included: E1, E3, M2, 4101, 4106. The CHP also assisted with traffic control.

Lakeside Engines 1 & 3 on scene.

Santee Engine 4 assisted. Note the supply line in the street.

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

Area Firefighters Conduct High Rise Fire Drill

Barona, Calif.

Firefighters from several San Diego County fire departments had a unique training opportunity over three days in April, 2015. They participated in a simulated fire in a high rise hotel occupancy at the Barona Resort and Casino. The comprehensive drill, put together by the Barona Fire Department, allowed firefighters the opportunity to practice the many different skills and operations required to mitigate this type of emergency incident. Skills practiced included incident command, fire attack, search and rescue, truck aerial operations, sprinkler system support, lobby control, staging area operations, ventilation. This drill also reinforced the strong regional interagency cooperation that San Diego County fire agencies are known for.

Fire agencies participating in the drill included: Barona, Lakeside, Ramona, Santee, Heartland Fire-Rescue, Sycuan, Viejas, Bonita, and San Miguel. The Lakeside Fire District Logistics Volunteers (LVG) provided incident support. Additionally, many staff members from the Barona Resort and Casino provided support and expertise.

We would like to acknowledge the Barona Resort and Casino for providing access to their facility for this unique and invaluable training opportunity.

Barona firefighters remove simulated "victim" via aerial ladder.

Firefighters attend incident briefing before the drill.

Lakeside LVGs providing incident support.

Firefighters discuss lessons learned at the A.A.R.

Post by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District
Photos by: Jack Williams, Lakeside Logistics Volunteer

Lakeside Fire Fighters Help El Cap Swim & Dive Team

Lakeside, Calif.

Lakeside Fire Fighters recently made a $500 donation to help the El Capitan High School Swim and Dive Team in its fundraising effort to buy a scoreboard for their pool. A group of El Cap student athletes stopped by Lakeside's River Park Fire Station (fs2) on April 17, 2015, to receive the donation.

Lakeside Fire Fighters are active in the Lakeside community donating to worthy causes throughout the year. Good luck to the El Capitan Aquatics Boosters in this worthwhile fundraising effort.

Lakeside FF-PMs Brent Watte (l) and Marc Poynter present donation to El Cap Swim & Dive members.

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

Lakeside Firefighters Rescue Trapped Driver

Lakeside, Calif. - 

Lakeside firefighters extricated a driver trapped in his vehicle following a high-speed rollover collision in northern Lakeside on Saturday, April 11, 2015. The vehicle sustained major damage after it veered off of southbound Hwy 67 just north of Slaughterhouse Canyon Road, coming to rest on its side after knocking down a chain link fence. Firefighters stabilized the vehicle and used hydraulic extrication tools to open the vehicle's roof and gain access to the trapped driver. Lakeside firefighter-paramedics provided patient care throughout the incident and once extricated, immediately transported the driver to a local trauma center.

Lakeside firefighters are trained in advanced vehicle rescue and attend many of these types of incidents every year. These calls are generally very labor-intensive and require the response of several companies to safely mitigate. Units responding to this call included E2, E203, R3, M2, and Div. 4106. Other assisting agencies included the CHP and a local tow company who provided scene clean-up and vehicle removal.

Firefighters work to free trapped driver.

Rescue 42 stabilization struts in place and roof flapped down to access driver.

Rescue 3 with hydraulic tools deployed.

Post by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District
Photos by: Captain Bernie Molloy, Lakeside Fire District

NATURAL GAS LEAK CAUSED BY VEHICLE ACCIDENT

Just before 10 pm on Friday April 10, Engine 2 from the  River Park fire station and Medic 3 from the Lake Jennings fire station were dispatched to a vehicle accident in the 9500 block of Los Coches Rd.  While units where in route, dispatch informed units that a gas line had been ruptured and the response was changed to a residential structure response.  Now there were a total of 4 engine companies, 1 truck company, 1 medic unit, and a chief from Lakeside and Santee.

When Engine 2 arrived on scene it was clear there was a gas leak from the sound of the loud hissing noise.  Engine 2 closed Los Coches to the north and Engine 3 closed the road to the south and all units put on full protective clothing and breathing apparatus then proceeded to evacuate the immediate area around the leak. After this was done SDG&E arrived and located a safe area to dig down into the street and safely clamp the gas line to stop the leak.

After the leak was secured, the utility company could come in and assess the damage to their equipment and began repairs.  It is unknown how long these repairs will take and the cause of the accident is under investigation by the CHP. 

Units assigned: Lakeside Engine 1, Engine 2, Engine 3, Medic 3, and Chief 4106.  Santee Engine 4 and Truck 4.

Photos From: Captain John Hisaw
Story By: Engineer Matt Buzzell

Heavy Load Topples Closing Lakeside Avenue

The excavator rolled off the trailer.

Lakeside, Calif. - 

At 5:19 p.m. on Thursday April 9, 2015, Lakeside firefighters were dispatched to a vehicle accident on Lakeside Avenue at Highway 67. Engine 1 arrived on scene to find that a 20 ton excavator had toppled off of its transport trailer landing on its side blocking the roadway.

Engine 2 protects the scene.

As a result of the overturned heavy equipment, 30 to 40 gallons of diesel fuel and hydraulic oil were actively leaking onto the roadway. It required the combined effort of Lakeside Fire, CHP, County and City Haz-Mat, County Roads, CalTrans and private contractor Bob's Crane to mitigate the incident.

San Diego Fire-Rescue Haz Mat 1 on scene.

Multiple agencies worked together for over four hours to resolve the situation.  Due to their cooperative effort, the hazardous materials were contained and prevented from entering the storm drain system.

Bob's Crane Service rights the excavator.

Lakeside Fire units assisting in the operation were Engines 1 and 2, Rescue3, Medic 3 and Chief 4101.

Story and Photos by:
Lakeside Fire Captain Rick Dalldorf

Fire Sprinkler Stops Kitchen Fire in Lakeside

Lakeside, Calif. - 

A stovetop grease fire extending into the kitchen cabinets was extinguished by a residential fire sprinkler in a Lakeside apartment home on Friday, April 3, 2015. The call to the fire department originated as a waterflow alarm from the sprinkler activation. Lakeside Engine 1 was on scene in under five minutes reporting an extinguished kitchen fire. Firefighters secured the water supply to the sprinkler and ensured no additional fire spread to the wall or cabinets.

The immediate action of the fire sprinkler stopped what would have been a destructive and dangerous fire in this occupied home. Contrary to popular portrayal, not all of the fire sprinklers in the home activate when there is a fire. Most commonly, as was the case with this fire, only one sprinkler head activates in response to the heat generated by the fire.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, cooking is, by far, the most common cause of residential building fires in the U.S. with more than 165,000 fires occurring annually. Oil, fat and grease (51 percent) were the leading types of material ignited in non-confined cooking fires.

For more information on preventing kitchen fire and cooking safety, CLICK HERE.

Fire was extending to cabinets.

The fire was stopped with one sprinkler head.

Post and Photos by: Captain Eric Stamm, Lakeside Fire District

Lakeside Logistics Volunteer Group Seeking New Members

Lakeside, Calif. -

Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity?  The Lakeside Fire Protection District is looking for volunteers to be a part of their Logistics Volunteer Group (LVG).  This group of volunteers is instrumental in the day-to-day activities of the fire department. You will be driving district vehicles, delivering mail, providing rehabilitation assistance at fires and other incidents, and representing our district at public functions. LVGs donate their time for at least one day a week, participate in special events, and have weekend on-call standby duty every 12 weeks. Turnover of our volunteers is rare, so this is your opportunity to serve our community and your fire department.

LVG's Conrad Cox, Ray Whitlock and Buck Buchholz 

Requirements are: 

-         Be 50 years of age or older

-         Live within 20 minutes of Lakeside Fire Annex (located near Station 2)

-         Pass a background check and drug test

-         Complete a medical certification (as there is some light to moderate lifting)

-         No fire department experience is necessary

If you have a desire to "give back" to your community, please contact our administration office at 619-390-2350 or click here for more information.