Lakeside and CalFire Hold Joint Training in El Monte Valley

El Monte Valley: After weeks of training and pre-planning, firefighters were called out on a realistic training incident on the new El Monte Park Trail. Crews were dispatched when a recreational hiker called stating he had found a mountain bike on the trail and could hear calls for help from a canyon area.

Lakeside and CalFire personnel arrive at the incident and start the task of establishing a rope system.

 After making cell phone contact with the reporting party, it was determined that the patient would have to be accessed from the Creek Hills Rd trailhead. Initially, the firefighter-paramedics from Medic 3 were sent into the area as part of a FAST Team. It's their job to locate the victim, make requests for specific equipment, and initiate care.

Firefighter-Paramedic Chris Williams, Josh Wilson, and Jose Corona wait to be lowered into the canyon area.

Because the patient had left the trail and ended up in a canyon area, the decision was made to establish a rope system to retrieve the victim and bring him back to the trail for extraction. A team of rescuers departed the trailhead with the equipment necessary to complete the rescue. A combined crew of Lakeside Fire and CalFire personnel arrived in the area and quickly set-up a technical rope system.

Crews secure the patient to the stokes basket for the ascent back to the trail.

The victim was brought back to the trail where a wheel was attached to the stokes basket for the one-mile hike out through a series of switchbacks. Ultimately the objective was to bring the patient to El Monte Park for rendezvous with ground units. 

The patient and crew members are pulled back out of the canyon area.

After the patient was retrieved, crews began the long hike out to El Monte Park. The entire operation took about two hours to complete. While two hours sounds like a long time, logistically these incidents are quite complex and can literally take hours to complete.

Lakeside and CalFire crew members start the haul out of the victim. Once the victim had been removed from the canyon crews were able to quickly deliver him at the park.

This drill allowed firefighters the opportunity to work together in this remote locations. Additionally, new (aspiring) officers are given the opportunity to take command roles to prepare themselves for future promotions. Today's Incident Commander was Acting Captain Eric Stamm.

Participating units were Battalion 1, Rescue 3 and Medic 3 (Lake Jennings Station), Engine 1 (Riverview Station), and CalFire 3382 (Flinn Springs Station).

Submitted By: Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District

Rescue 3 Crews Practice Structural Collapse Skills

The Scenario: There has been an explosion at a local industrial building. The force of the blast has compromised some of the bearing walls leaving the structure severely weakened. To further complicate matters there is possibly a victim in the affected room.

Fire Engineers Chris Downing and Steve Schleif construct a shore that will be moved into the structure. Shoring is very specific, right down to the nailing pattern.

While incidents like this are pretty infrequent, when they do occur it requires an aggressive plan to quickly make the structure safe and remove the victims. This requires crews to practice emergency shoring skills needed to deal with these incidents.

The crew places a "Double T" emergency shore capable of supporting about 8,000 pounds. Firefighter-Paramedic Jose Corona, Eric Stamm, and Fire Engineer Chris Downing set the first shore.

Entry by crews into an unstable structure invites the possibility of further structural collapse, and the possibility that rescue crews could become additional victims. By shoring as we make access into the building lessens the possibility of a secondary event. But shoring requires some pretty specific parameters, thus it is necessary to constantly review these skills.

In the past crews have been called upon to shore buildings damaged by vehicles, fallen trees, and other emergency type situations.

Submitted By: Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District

Hangin' Around the Channel Road Bridge

Lakeside: The crews from the Lake Jennings and Riverview stations took advantage of the opportunity to conduct high angle drills off the Channel Road Bridge (San Diego River).To perform this drill we took advantage of the lane closure already in place by the contractor building the new fire station nearby.
Without this traffic control equipment in place we wouldn't have had the opportunity to close a lane of Channel Road to complete this drill as performed.  Firefighters are always looking for these kinds of opportunities to hone their skills without undue impact to the daily activities of the community.

Intertwined within the community of Lakeside are flood control channels, cliffs, commercial and industrial structures that pose the potential for extremely difficult rescue situations.The techniques used to conduct these operations is commonly referred to as "technical rescue." The techniques and disciplines required to conduct these operations requires constant review.

Firefighter-Paramedic Chris Williams rappels to the riverbottom

The operations conducted on Wednesday (September 22nd, 2010) on the bridge simulated lowering a paramedic to a victim located in the river bottom. Initial operations are directed towards getting definitive medical attention to the victim in the least amount of time. The Lakeside paramedics are trained to work in a wide variety of environments, and are trained in the technical rescue skills necessary to access these patients.

Firefighters Jon Jordan and Chris Williams don harnesses needed to conduct high angle operations.

Rescue 3 is a specialized apparatus that carries sufficient equipment to conduct specialized operations in the urban and wilderness setting. Outfitted with1800' of rope, and a complete array of hardware, there are few situations that we cannot access.

Firefighter Paramedic Jon Jordan on a two rope lowering system.

For those that passed us on the bridge, and thought a horrible accident had occurred......not to worry, it was just a training exercise to help us prepare for such an incident.

Fire Engineer Steve Schleif operates the lowering system .

Submitted By: Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire Protection District
Photos By: Engineer Carl Chiodo, Lakeside Fire Protection District

Multi-Company Drill on the Cliffs

Peutz Valley: If hanging off a 200 foot cliff on a rope, and slowly being lowered into an area full of posion oak is your thing....well you missed out. Lakeside crews travelled to the Peutz Valley area to conduct a multi-company drill in the rugged terrain above El Capitan Reservoir.

Departure point for crew members going over the side.

Crews conducted a drill that involved lowering personnel into an inaccessible area 200’ below the trail network. In technical rescue it’s essential that we get personnel to the victim as quickly as possible. The status of the victim will determine on how we will extricate the victim. It’s important that these injured parties received prompt definitive care at a hospital, so our entire plan revolves around this goal.

Engineer Robert Williams about halfway down the cliff. After this point the "fun" with the poison oak begins. 

Crews are tasked with anchoring to rocks and vegetation in the area, with sufficient strength to conduct rescue operations. This tends to put some out of their comfort zone as firefighters are use to anchoring to 40,000 pound fire trucks. But with load sharing anchoring, and a back-up safety line, these rescue are pretty safe.

If you look carefully you can see the firefighter on the cliff. At this point they are about a quarter of the way down

Submitted By: Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District

Training at the Blossom Gliderport

Blossom Valley: High in the hills above El Monte Valley lies one of the most popular spots in Southern California for para-glider and hang glider pilots to test their skills in the upslope winds that funnel up from the canyon below. This area has been a mecca for these enthusiasts since the early 80's, and its popularity grows each year. On a clear summer evening it's not uncommon to see multiple gliders in the area.

The view of the El Monte Valley from the Blossom Gliderport.

But with any sport that has a degree of risk accidents do happen. Over the years the Lakeside Fire District has been called to assist injured pilots along the range of hills where they circle. Unfortunately the area is extremely rugged and in many spots it requires the use of ropes and hardware to retrieve the injured.

Fire Engineer Rich Smith reviews using hardware on technical rope systems while Firefighter-Paramedic Jamie Hazlewood works on a lowering system.

Recently the crew from Rescue 3 and Medic 3 (Lake Jennings Station) traveled to the area to practice setting up rope systems and evaluating the different slope areas where potential incidents occur. The most important aspect of these rescues is getting a paramedic to the injured party so decisions can be made based on their injuries. As most of these injuries require evaluation at a "Trauma Center" we work to maintain the "Golden Hour" treatment guidelines that suggest from the time of injury till arrival at a trauma center should not exceed an hour. But with any rescue that occurs in these areas, time is not always on our side. Given the vast area in the Eastern El Monte Valley, simply locating the downed pilot can be time consuming.

Crews review the proper "lashing" technique for removing patients. Lashing is the method we use to secure a patient into the stokes basket.

Lakeside Firefighter-Paramedic Jose Corona and Josh Raczka being lowered into the canyon on a 500' rope. They will start treatment on the patient once they access their location and radio up information that will determine how they will be extricated from the canyon.

Once the injuries are evaluated specific choices can be made on how best to remove the victim. Those choices can include a simple "hike out", all the way up to a hoist removal by helicopter.

Submitted By: Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District

Lakeside Participates in the County Wildland Preparedness Drill

Viejas: Lakeside units Brush 2 and Battalion 1 participated in the County Wildland Preparedness Drill today on the Viejas Reservation. Fire units from throughout the county took part in what has became an annual event as crews get ready for the approaching fire season.

Lakeside Battalion Chief Ron Laff demonstrates getting into a practice fire shelter. Wildland crews are required to carry shelters on all wildland fires, and must demonstrate proficiency once a year.

Rotating through several skill stations, crews reviewed such subjects as communications, fire line construction, emergency shelter deployments, and structure protection.

Chief Laff briefs the crew members of Task Force 6440T on the days events.

Organized and presented by the Training Officers Section of the San Diego Fire Chiefs' Association, the drills allow crews from different agencies to work together in real-time, simulated wildland situations - an invaluable experience for both new recruits and experienced veterans alike.

Heartland Task Force 6440T at Viejas

Firefighters demonstrate the difficulty of getting 

into a fire shelter in high wind conditions

The Drill continues on April 27th through to the 29th, and Lakeside will be there.

Story Submitted By: Captain James Kirkpatrick, Lakeside Fire District
Photos Submitted By: Firefighter-Paramedic Eric Stamm, Lakeside Fire District

Multi Company Vehicle Extrication Drill

Lakeside Rescue 3, Medic 3 and Engine 26s along with Cal Fire Engine 3382 got some "hands on" training today to hone their skills in the art of vehicle extrication techniques. The drill was made possible with the donation of damaged vehicles by Vince Clark at RoadOne Towing in district 26. The crews were invited to the tow yard at 15289 Olde Hwy 80 and provided with several vehicles to dismantle.

Rescue 3 Captain Mark Grow explains the specialized equipment

This type of training is invaluable because it allows the crews to explore new techniques as well as share the tried and true methods in a non-emergency atmosphere where they are able to perfect the skills necessary for a successful patient rescue. Rescue 3 carries a full compliment of vehicle rescue gear including Holmatro hydraulic cutters, spreaders and rams designed specifically to remove a twisted vehicle from around a trapped victim piece by piece.

Lakeside "Rescue Guru" Todd Welch provides some tips to Cal Fire personnel

Today's drill was attended by many of the apparatus that would typically respond to a vehicle rescue incident in districts 26 and 3 along the Interstate 8 corridor and surface streets. The response includes automatic aid units from the neighboring agencies of Cal Fire, El Cajon and Alpine. Multi-agency drills such as this provide a chance for all personnel involved to practice with the specialize equipment on Rescue 3.

 Vehicle properly stabilized for extrication work

Firefighter Chris Williams and Engineer Steve Schleif execute a dash roll on a side positioned vehicle

Submitted By: Captain Chuck Palmore, Lakeside Fire District

Lakeside Firefighters Help in Training New Recruits

Saturday, March 20, 2010

The crew from Rescue 3 spent part of their shift last Saturday assisting instructors at the Heartland 20th Fire Academy in El Cajon. The topic of the day was basic vehicle extrication. R3 members helped the new firefighter recruits with techniques needed for removing people trapped in vehicles. Topics included: vehicle stabilization, glass management, door/roof/floor removal, and dash displacement.

Lakeside Firefighters have a long tradition of assisting at the Heartland Fire Academies and the Lakeside Fire District is proud to be an original member of the Heartland Fire Training JPA.

Fire recruits get instruction from retired Battalion Chief Steve Carpenter

Equipment cache for vehicle rescue training

Heartland 20th Academy tearing-it-up! Making access on a rollover (note position of driver's seat!)

Information submitted by: Captain Scott Culkin
Photos by: Engineer/Paramedic Chris Downing

Lakeside Firefighters Train on Vertical Ventilation Techniques

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Lakeside, CA

Lakeside Fire Department on-duty crews had an excellent opportunity to practice vertical ventilation techniques on a house slated for demolition to make way for the new Riverpark Fire Station and Administration Facility. Firefighters from the Lake Jennings and Riverview Fire Stations spent most of the afternoon cutting ventilation holes in the roof of the structure. Proper ventilation is one of the highest priorities when fighting structure fires and is performed to relieve the structure of smoke and superheated gases, making it easier to extinguish the fire. Eventually, all of the Lakeside Fire crews will have an opportunity to train on this house before it is demolished later this month.

Firefighter/Paramedic Steve Russo starts his cut while Engineer/Paramedic Chris Downing backs him up.

After the hole is cut and louvered, Engine 3's crew prepares to leave the roof.

Firefighter-Paramedic Eric Stamm uses a saw technique that minimizes the chance that he could cut through a roof rafter. Such a critical mistake could result in roof failure and collapse.

Submitted by Captain Scott Culkin
Photos by Captain Wes Barnes

Training on the Trails

Lakeside: The Lakeside Fire District has a web of trails and recreational activity areas throughout most of the community. Used by everyone from horse enthusiasts, to hang glider pilots, these back country areas can pose a challenge for rescue crews when accidents happen. To maintain our preparedness for these types of incidents firefighters constantly have to practice skills used to extricate victims from an array of difficult terrains that we might encounter.

Firefighter-Paramedic Jose Corona reviews system hardware with other crew members.

Captain Chuck Palmore prepares a system used to lower rescuers down to a victim.

No two calls are ever the same when dealing with injured parties in the wilderness setting. Often the hardest phase of the rescue is simply locating the victim, whom is often confused as to their location, or they are simply overdue and we're looking in a massive area for the victim.

The the past Lakeside Firefighters have responded to stranded climbers in the El Capitan and El Monte Park areas, downed hang glider pilots in the Blossom Valley area, and multiple riders down from off-road and horse related incidents.  

Once located crews need to quickly access the victim and evaluate their injuries. Crews practice using anchoring systems out of objects commonly found in these very rural areas. The trick is to securely anchor the system and get a paramedic into the victim within minutes. Once the medic is with the patient definitive care can be administered while the rescue crew works on a method to extricate the victim.

Lakeside Firefighters Chris Williams, Steve Schleif, and Todd Welch prepare to be lowered into a remote location.

Lakeside Firefighters Danny Leetch, Chuck Palmore, and Steve Thompson being lowered into a ravine off Furnace Creek Rd

Typically firefighters are introduced to basic rope rescue techniques during their academy, but the techniques required to remove victims in wildness settings requires a whole new "skill set." Lakeside Fire requires all employees to attain these skills during their first three years of employment.

There are some specific things you can do to help us locate you in the back country.

•      Let People Know Where you are Going: Let family members, friends, or co-workers know your plans. This should include:

• Where you are departing from.
• Where are you going.
• When will you be back.
  

•     Carry a Cell Phone: Unfortunately some of the more rural areas are out of the coverage area, but it's a good idea to carry a phone to make emergency calls. The other problem with cell phones is people lose orientation, and have difficulty describing their location to a 911 operator. Try to be aware of the areas you are in so that you can give specific information.

•     Wear Clothing that is Easy to Spot: Most searches start with an aerial search of the area. Wear clothing that can been seen against the background of earth colors. 

•     Be Prepared for Changing Conditions: Take warm clothing and water in case you become stranded for an extended period of time.

Lakeside Fire Engineer Steve Schleif practices using "brush" as part of a complex anchoring system where the load is shared by many objects. Sometimes this is all we have!

Submitted By: Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire Protection District