Lakeside Firefighters Handle Drive-up Motorhome fire

El Cajon, CA

The Medic 3 crew was just finishing up their morning routine at Lakeside's Lake Jennings Fire Station (fs3) when a citizen drove up to the front of the station in his 27-foot class-C motorhome — that was on fire! The driver noticed smoke coming from the back of his motorhome while he was on eastbound I-8 approaching the Lake Jennings Park Rd. exit. Aware of the location of the nearest fire station, he immediately headed there.

The Medic 3 firefighters notified dispatch of the still alarm and proceeded to don their turnout gear. With the Engine 3 crew out of quarters, Firefighter-Paramedic Jamie Hazlewood prepared to put the reserve fire engine in service. Just as the call was dispatched, Engine 3 pulled up to the now well-involved motorhome directly in front of the fire station. Firefighters quickly pulled attack lines and established a water supply at a nearby hydrant. The fire was extinguished in around 10 minutes.

FF-PMs Jamie Hazlewood and Andrew Shaba finish up extinguishment.

FF-PM Steve Russo pulled an additional attack line.

Engineer-Paramedic Richard Smith at the pump panel.

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

Lakeside Firefighters Perform Home Pool Safety Inspection

Lakeside, CA - 

Firefighters from Lakeside's River Park Fire Station (fs2) helped a local resident with a pool safety inspection on Friday, August 28, 2015. The district's pool safety program is a resource to help residents with creating a safe environment in and around backyard pools and to decrease the incidence of drowning-related calls within the fire district.

According to district pool safety program coordinator, Firefighter-Paramedic Brian Moore, pool safety is as easy as A,B,C,D:

A - Adult Supervision should always be present when kids are in or near the pool. During parties or
      gatherings, a designated "Water Watcher" should always be present;

B - Barriers such as fencing and self latching, child-proof gates should be in place;

C - CPR trained persons should be present and a cell phone or landline should be immediately
      accessible for emergencies;

D - Devices to help someone in trouble should be available like life rings or hooks. Use of approved
      flotation devices;

Additional safety information includes:

- Removing and storing all pool toys after use;
- Providing steps or ladders at each end of the pool;
- Keeping the water level at least 3 inches below the pool deck to provide a hand hold;
- Store pool chemicals away from the pool area;
- Keep chairs and ladders away from the pool area fencing;
- Provide for an unobstructed view of the pool from windows.

Lakeside Firefighters welcome the opportunity to provide this important service to our residents. If you would like a home pool safety inspection, contact us at 619-390-2350.

For more information on pool safety, visit the district website here: http://lakesidefire.net/lakeside-pool-safety/

Firefighter-Paramedic Brian Moore checks the water level. Note the toy in the pool.

An example of an approved flotation device for a child.

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

Strike Team 6440C Demobilized

Lakeside CA -

Members of Strike Team 6440C

After 14 days on the fire line at the Route Complex and the Mad River Complex, firefighters from Lakeside, Barona, El Cajon, Alpine and Sycuan have been demobilized and heading home. Good job gentlemen and have a safe trip back!

Post by M. Brown, LVG
Photo provided by Captain M. Buzzell, Lakeside Fire

Update on Strike Team 6440C

Lakeside, CA -

L-R: Captain M. Buzzell, Engineer R. Smith and FF/PM P. Sellers

Strike Team 6440C has been busy with the Lassic Fire in the Mad River Complex. The Mad River Complex includes the Lassic, Pickett and Gobbler fires and includes 36,055 acres, and is currently 54% contained. The Lassic fire, as of August 25, 2015, has burned 16,791 acres, and is 7 % contained. On the west side of the fire perimeter, wind has pushed the fire hard but air resources mitigated the fire's advancement. Crews will continue to provide structure protection in the Rutledge area where residents have been evacuated.  The plan for the Lassic fire is to patrol and mop-up areas along the northern and northeastern edge and continue efforts to apply direct control tactics on the western edge of fire. Direct control tactics is a method of suppression in which the fire perimeter or burning edge is treated by wetting, cooling, smothering, or chemically quenching the fire, or by mechanically separating the fire from unburned fuel.  Additionally, control lines will be added as needed on southern and eastern divisions of fire.  Fire crews and support personnel have come from all over the country and as far away as North Carolina, Mississippi and New York to aid in suppression and management of these fires. 

Strike Team 6440C

The Strike Team has a tentative demobilization date of Thursday, August 27, 2015.

Post by M. Brown, LVG
Photos by Captain M. Buzzell, Lakeside Fire

Lakeside Fire Sends out Relief Crew to Strike Team 6440C

Lakeside, CA -

Late last week, personnel from Brush 1 (Station 1), part of the Strike Team 6440C, were relieved by Captain M. Buzzell (Station 1), Engineer R. Smith (Station 3), and Firefighter/Paramedic Patrick Sellers (Station 3).  The first crew spent two weeks on the fire line at the Willow, Rocky and the Route Complex fires.

The Route Complex is at 31,487 acres and 33% contained.  The Mad River Complex was added to the Route Complex on Tuesday, August 17 and is 24,836 acres and 65% contained. A Type 1 incident management team from the Northern Rockies will be assuming command of the Mad River Complex. Officials have announced an estimated containment date of Monday, August 31st.

Strike Team begins two hour drive from base camp to the fire

Brush 1 (Lakeside Fire) and Brush 8 (Heartland Fire/El Cajon)

The Strike Team on nightly patrol

Wind carried embers quickly ignite dry tree tops

Post by M. Brown, LVG
Photos by Captain M. Buzzell, Lakeside Fire

OES Strike Team Demobilized

Lakeside, CA -

Pictured above L-R: Engineer D. Leetch, Captain C. Palmore, FF/PM S. Daunis and FF T. Welch.

The OES Strike Team has been in Northern California, River Complex, since August 4th. This morning they were notified they were being demobilized after 15 days of firefighting. Lakeside's firefighters will be returning to the area and resuming their duties within the next couple of days. 

Post by M. Brown, LVG
Photo supplied by Engineer D. Leetch, Lakeside Fire

Lakeside Fire Protection District Open Recruitment for Administrative Analyst Position

Lakeside, CA -

For position description and application packet, click here.

Update on OES Strike Team

Lakeside, CA -

OES Strike Team continues to aid in the fire attack at the River Complex. The River Complex is managing a total of three fires that have merged in the Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests. Acreage is currently 39,445 and containment at 18%.  High temperatures and low humidity will continue today with smoke hampering air operations until the inversion layer lifts. Crews are continually constructing contingency lines to protect the communities of Denny, Bell Ranch, Hoboken, Trinity Village, Hawkins Bar, Dailey, the Highway 299 corridor, and to protect life, property resources, and cultural values of the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation.

 

Crews receive briefing from the 
Strike Team Leader

Engineer Leetch keeps an eye out
 for tumbling debris

From July 29 -31, 2015, the Shasta-Trinity National Forest received 440 lightning strikes that resulted in over 60 fires.

Firefighters head up a fire road illuminated by the Engine

Due to current fire conditions in Northern California, fire closures and/or restrictions on public lands are expected for the 2015 hunting season. If you plan to hunt U.S Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management lands this year, it is important that you monitor the individual forest and/or resource area websites for updates on potential closures. Click on the following link for more information California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

Post by M. Brown, LVG

Photos by Engineer D. Leetch, Lakeside Fire

Carbon Monoxide Alarm Alerts Sleeping Family

Lakeside, CA - 

A family was awakened by their home's Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarm early on the morning of August 16, 2015. Firefighters from Lakeside's River Park Fire Station were summoned at 2:35 a.m. to investigate the hazard. Arriving to find the home's occupants outside, the crew from Engine 2 used their carbon monoxide detector to confirm that the residence did contain significant levels of the deadly gas. Upon investigation, the source was confirmed to be a charcoal barbecue that had been stored in the garage after earlier use. The barbecue was moved outside and a ventilation fan was used supply the home with fresh air. Several subsequent walk-throughs of the home confirmed that no levels of CO remained.

Carbon Monoxide presents a particularly insidious danger to occupants. It is colorless and odorless which makes it virtually undetectable to humans. Its physical properties allow it to mix well with air inside your home allowing it to persist in nearly all the spaces inside. CO is produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels from sources like gas-burning appliances, charcoal grills, or automobile exhaust. According to the CDC, an average of 430 deaths occur each year in the U.S. from unintentional CO poisoning.

This incident is an important reminder of the need for functioning CO (and smoke) alarms in residential dwellings. The CO alarms in this home (which were located on every level and outside each sleeping area) alerted these sleeping residents to the presence of a potentially deadly condition.

When using charcoal barbecue grills, ensure the coals are properly extinguished (wet and cold) and disposed of in an approved container prior to storing the grill. Additionally, have gas furnaces serviced prior to (fall and winter) use.

This bbq grill was producing a lot of CO!

 Post by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District

STRIKE TEAM 6440C REASSIGNED TO ROUTE COMPLEX

Lakeside, CA -

Strike Team 6440C has been reassigned for the second time to the Route Complex which consists of the Buck Fire, Johnson Fire, Kerlin Fire, and Chance Fire. The Complex resides in Humboldt and Trinity Counties. The fires started July 30th from lightning strikes.

Crews continue to build fire containment lines or use existing road systems for a future burnout operation. Burnout is setting fire inside a control line to widen it or consume fuel between the edge of the fire and the control line.

16,798 acres have been affected and a loss of two outbuildings. There are no mandatory evacuations but Highway 36 is under a hard closure (no one allowed to travel, including residents.) The fire is currently 15% contained. 

Strike Team 6440C was initially mobilized in the late evening of July 29th. This is what firefighters train for on a daily basis, and we appreciate their steadfast dedication in ensuring our safety and protection of our property.

Post by M. Brown, LVG

Strike Team 6440C Update

Lakeside, CA -

Strike Team arrives at Rocky Fire after a
five hour drive from the Willow Fire

Strike Team 6440C has arrived at the Rocky Fire near Clear Lake in northern California.  The crews have been assigned line construction on the fire line. So far, 39 residences and 52 outbuildings have been destroyed. The temperatures have been hot and relative humidity is low, which increases fire activity in the area.

Rocky Fire, August 3, 2015
Photo by Matthew Henderson

As of 6 pm, August 5th, a total of 69,600 acres have been burned with 30% containment. Mandatory evacuations are still in effect and the cause is under investigation.

Post by M. Brown, LVG
Strike Team photo by Capt, I. Lowe

UPDATE AUGUST 7

As of today's date, the fire attack has held the acreage at 69,600 and is now 45% contained. Structure loss increased to 43 residences and 53 outbuildings.

Captain Lowe of Brush 1, Station 1, taking time
 out for a refreshment

Lakeside Personnel Head to River Complex in Northern California

Lakeside, CA -

Lakeside OES 305 was mobilized early this morning as part of an OES strike team headed to the River Complex near the communities of Dailey Ranch, Hoboken and Denny in Northern California. The River Complex is managing a total of five (5) fires due to the fires merging together from the Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National forests. 7,059 acres have been involved and mandatory evacuations are in effect. The initial fire was started by lightning on July 30th.  

OES 305

OES (Office of Emergency Services) 305, out of Station 26, Blossom Valley, is being manned by Captain C. Palmore, Engineer D. Leetch, Firefighter T. Welch, and Firefighter/Paramedic S. Duanis.

While Lakeside Fire Protection District is assisting in firefighting activities in the northern part of the State, community services (medical/fire protection) will not be impacted.

Post by M. Brown, LVG

UPDATE - FRIDAY, AUGUST 7

Strike Team OES

The River Complex fire is at 12,524 acres with containment at 8%. Line construction will be the main objective in the next few days. 

Crews heading up steep terrain

Photos by Engineer D. Leetch and Captain C. Palmore

Strike Team 6440C Reassigned to Rocky Fire

Lakeside, CA -

On Monday, August 3, 2015, Strike Team 6440C, Lakeside Fire's Brush 1 and 4107 (Capt Hisaw), was demobilized from the Willow Fire and reassigned to the Rocky Fire. The Rocky Fire has charred over 60,000 acres, destroyed 24 homes and 26 outbuildings. The fire started July 29th and is 12% contained. The area has no fire history and very heavy fuels. Mandatory evacuations are in place for over 5,530 homes. Fire official's are calling this fire unprecedented.

CAL FIRE is managing the wildfire and up-to-date information can be found here.

Post by M. Brown, LVG
Photo: CAL FIRE