C-Division Aerial Operations Training at TOTF

Lakeside, CA - 

Lakeside Firefighters train every shift. At least twice every month, our engine companies and medic units attend what is referred to as "color group" training at the Thomas H. Owen Heartland Fire Training Facility (TOTF) in El Cajon. This training facility, which opened December 1, 1973, was one of the first of its kind in the nation, formed as a Joint Powers Authority between three east county fire districts (Lakeside, Santee, Spring Valley) and two cities (La Mesa, El Cajon). TOTF provides training for hundreds of firefighters every year from all over San Diego County.

The C-Division crew from Lakeside's River Park Fire Station (fs2) attended their regularly scheduled drill time at TOTF ("the tower") this morning. E202s and M2 personnel worked on hose evolutions for fire attack, pumper operations, and a specialized drill utilizing the aerial ladder on the pumper (E202s).

Engine 202s is a specialized apparatus which is rated as a Type I fire engine capable of pumping 1500 gallons per minute for fire control. Additionally, the engine has a 65-foot Telesqurt, telescoping aerial boom with a ladder. This apparatus provides aerial rescue capability and an elevated nozzle capable of discharging up to 1000 gallons per minute for fire control.

Lakeside Probationary FF-PM Kyle McKee climbs the aerial.

Lakeside Engine 202s, 65-foot TeleSqurt.

Post By: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District
Photos By: FF-PM Brian Moore, Lakeside Fire District

Lakeside Firefighters Stayed Busy in 2015

Lakeside, CA - 

The close of 2015 saw another busy year for firefighters in Lakeside. Our four paramedic engine companies and two paramedic transport ambulances attended a total of 8553 separate incidents generating over 13,000 unit responses (each incident often has more than one unit assigned.) These incidents represent an average of more than 23 responses each 24-hour period. For the year, calls within the Lakeside Fire District proper totaled 6016; the other responses represent automatic (and mutual) aid responses to assist our partner agencies, primarily in the Central Zone. Annual run totals by Lakeside stations and units are as follows:

Station 1 (Riverview):   1714

• Engine 1:   1684
• Brush 1:     30 

Station 2 (River Park): 5652

• Engine 2:       2035
• Engine 202s:  88
• Medic 2:        3486
• WT7251:        43

Station 3 (Lake Jennings): 4910

• Engine 3:   1659
• Rescue 3:   289
• Medic 3:     2962

Station 26 (Blossom Valley):  805

• Engine 26:   792
• OES305:     13     

The Lakeside Fire District is an "all-risk" agency providing service for many different kinds of incidents, both emergency and non-emergency. In 2015, Lakeside firefighters responded to the following calls for service:

Medical Aid - 4930
(Heart attack, stroke, bleeding, falls, seizures, etc.)

Traffic Collisions - 384
(Vehicle collisions, auto vs. pedestrian, motorcycle accident)

Public Service - 303
(Lift assist, snake removal, child locked in auto, etc.)

Ringing Alarms - 97
(Fire alarms, carbon monoxide alarms)

Structure Fires - 60
Single family, multi family, commercial buildings)

Vehicle Fires - 52

Vegetation Fires - 31
 (Wildland, brush, grass)

Odor Check/Gas Emergencies - 27
(gas line break, gas leaks)

Rescue - 19
(Vehicle extrication, rope rescue, physical rescue)

Hazardous Materials - 4 




Post by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District

Lakeside Firefighters Extinguish Structure Fire

El Monte Valley -

Just after 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 4, 2016, Heartland Fire Communications received numerous reports of a fire on the northeast end of the El Monte Valley in Lakeside. Because of the remote nature of area, the initial report was for a vegetation fire. While enroute the incident, Lakeside Division 4105 (Molloy) was updated with additional information suggesting a probable structure fire. Chief Molloy added additional units to the response and arrived on scene reporting a large outbuilding well-involved with fire extending to the surrounding vegetation. Lakeside Engine 3 (Lake Jennings) arrived and quickly stretched a handline to attack the fire. Engines 2 (River Park) and 26 (Blossom Valley) also arrived and assisted.

In this area of the fire district there is no municipal water system (and therefore, no fire hydrants). In order to ensure an adequate water supply for firefighting operations, the district water tender (WT7251) is automatically dispatched as part of any fire response in this area. The total amount of water delivered to the scene with the initial response to this fire exceeded 3000 gallons.

The fire was quickly knocked down and extension was limited to a small area of vegetation. Additional responding resources included: E4, Br4 (Santee); Division 4103, Chief 4101, M3 (Lakeside). Also assisting were several San Diego Sheriff Deputies. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Smoke was visible from a distance.

Lakeside Fire Captain Chris Downing directs the fire attack.

Probationary Firefighter-Paramedic Ernie Flint on the nozzle.

Lakeside Captain Wes Barnes helps with overhaul.

Lakeside Fire Engineers Lance Buford (r) and Jamie Hazlewood put together the water supply plan.

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