Engine 3 Goes Back to School

Rios Elementary School: With the start of Safety Week at Rios Canyon Elementary School, the crew from Lakeside's Lake Jennings fire station (fs3) got a special invitation to come talk with the preschool and kindergarten classes about fire safety. During our time at Rios, Fire Engineer Rich Smith had the opportunity to talk about "Stop Drop and Roll", "Stranger Danger", proper use of 911, and "Crawl Low Under the Smoke".

The very attentive preschoolers, and kindergarten kids at Rios.

Fire Engineer Rich Smith discusses "Stranger Danger" with the kids.

 To finish off the presentation, Firefighter-Paramedic Josh Raczka demonstrated the equipment firefighters use to enter burning buildings. We try to teach kids not to be scared of the noises the breathing apparatus makes and to call out to us, but more important "don't hide"...!

Kids have the opportunity to see (and hear) a firefighter in their protective gear.

 The kids also had the opportunity to tour the fire engine and ask questions. When dealing with this age group, you had better come with your "A" game because they are going to have some great questions.

Firefighter-Paramedic Josh Raczka discusses why fire engines have so much equipment.

Fire Engineer Rich Smith shows the kids how we carry hose up hills on wildland fires.

We would like to thank the kids from Ms. Hanna, McKimmey, and Olenick's class for their attention and great questions.

Submitted by: Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District.

Lindo Park Elementary after school program Show and Tell

On March 22nd Engine 2 represented the Lakeside Fire Department in a Fire Safety Show and Tell to the children of the Lindo Park Elementary After School Program. The crew of Engine 2, Captain Victor Gonzalez, Engineer Scott Smith, and Firefighter Shawn McKenna, presented fire safety information and demonstrations such as: Stop-Drop-and Roll, Exit Drills in the Home (EDITH), the danger of playing with fire, and the proper use of 911. Later they demonstrated dressing in fire fighter safety gear and provided a tour of the fire engine. Seemingly millions of questions were asked, and answered, and everyone enjoyed the visit with the fire fighters.

Firefighter Mckenna prepping for the "Stop Drop and Roll"

An attentive audience

Engineer Scott Smith answering questions and posing with the kids

Photos and Story submitted by: Engineer Scott Smith

Lakeside Firefighters Participate in Riverview Elementary's International Fair

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Firefighters from Lakeside Fire Station 2 were on hand at the Riverview Elementary School's International Fair on Saturday. The fair was a celebration of a wide variety of countries from around the world and included information, crafts, food, and entertainment from the various cultures represented.  Attending the event were Captain Victor Gonzalez, Engineer Scott Smith, and Firefighter/Paramedic Justin Loffredo.  The crew from Engine 2 provided fire prevention and fire safety information as well as giving tours of the fire engine and commentary on the fire department and what we do for the community.  Lakeside Firefighters participate in many community events such as this every year.

Lakeside Fire Captain Victor Gonzalez answers questions about Engine 2 during Riverview Elementary's International Fair

 Families Gather around Engine 2 for a tour

Firefighter/Paramedic Loffredo handing out coloring books

Information and photos by: Battalion Chief Chuck Tockstein and Engineer Scott Smith

"Every 15 Minutes" comes to El Capitan High School

El Capitan High School: The "Every 15 Minutes Program" is a hyper-realistic simulation of teens involved in an accident where alcohol results in major injures and death. This program is presented by the California Highway Patrol every two years to the junior and senior classes at El Capitan High. Designed to be a deterrent to teen DUI driving, the exercise simulates every aspect of an accident of this magnitude right through to the disposition of the fatality to the parents.

Students assemble for the "Every 15 Minutes" presentation

Lakeside Firefighters begin the process of removing two simulated patients from one of the involved vehicles.

Lakeside Fire has always been an enthusiastic partner in this presentation and provided an engine company, rescue company, and ALS ambulance, and a Battalion Chief for this event. This years presentation involved an accident that occurred on Ashwood St, and rolled down the embankment onto the playing field at the high school. As fire and CHP units arrived they discovered one victim was a fatality (simulated), with two critically injured occupants in another car. All roles are played by El Capitan students. They do an outstanding job that we often need to remind ourselves that this is "only simulated."

Fire Engineer Carl Chiodo stabilizes the neck of one of the simulated patients while Firefighter-Paramedic Danny Leetch works to free her legs.

The fire crews are tasked with the job of extricating the two occupants from a severely damaged vehicle. The role players present with life threatening injuries that will require transport to a receiving trauma center. The students are placed in one of the District's ALS ambulances, and transported to Scripps Mercy Trauma Center in San Diego. Once they arrive there they are evaluated by a Trauma Physician and the parents are summoned to the hospital. Simultaneous to this event another student is placed under arrest for "suspicion of drunk driving" and is taken through the incarceration procedure.

Two student "roll players" are loaded in the ALS ambulance and transported to
Scripp's Mercy Trauma Center

Lakeside Firefighters load a simulated fatality into a coffin

This entire event is carefully documented on video tape and presented to the students as part of an assembly the following day.

The Lakeside Fire District would like to thank the California Highway Patrol for the continued partnership in this program, and we thank the staff and students at El Capitan for having us participate.

Submitted By: Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District.

Lakeside Crews Support Event at Los Coches Creek Middle School

Flinn Springs: Los Coches Creek Middle School 6th graders got to see fire/emergency vehicles, and were taught fire/disaster preparedness information, at an event sponsored by the Greater Alpine Fire Safe Council. Lakeside Fire, CALFire, Viejas Fire, US Forest Service, SDG&E, American Red Cross and others had booths at this event. 


Lakeside Fire Protection District crews are committed to spreading the message of Fire Prevention and Disaster Preparedness to Lakeside residents and guests. If Lakeside residents wish to have a fire engine at your upcoming educational event please contact the Fire Prevention Division at 619-390-2350.

Lakeside firefighters spend some time talking to 6th graders at Los Coches Creek  Middle School about fire prevention and safety topics.

Submitted By: Interim Fire Chief Andy Parr

Show and Tell

One of the many duties firefighters from the Lakeside Fire Protection District 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. Today the show and tell was at Winter Gardens Elementary School. The children were taught age appropriate actions to take in several fire and medical related situations. Our school outreach programs are taught with children in mind, letting them discover the sight and sounds of the fire department so they will be less frightened if they ever have to interact with firefighters. Fires and medical emergencies can be very frightening, especially to children, it is with this thought in mind that our firefighters teach children they can trust us when they are exposed to these and other traumatic situations. Today's classes were taught by E2 and M3. The school show and tell programs are taught by engine companies and medic units that are on shift the day of the event so a unique experience is always delivered.

If you have children in a school within the Lakeside Fire Protection District, ask your school to request a show and tell from the Fire Department. Contact the department through our website at http://www.lakesidefire.net/ to set up an appointment. Unfortunately for the children, we do not have any Dalmatians that we get to bring along.

Submitted by: Firefighter/Paramedic Bernie Molloy

Captain Gonzalez, Firefighter McKenna, and Firefighter-Paramedic Peters demonstrate the gear used in structural firefighting. It's important to expose kids to the noises firefighters make when searching a building as some kids become scared and will not call out for help.

From Winter Gardens Elementary Show and Tell 2/19/10

Firefighter-Paramedic Bryan Peters shows kids the gear used in fighting fires.

From Winter Gardens Elementary Show and Tell 2/19/10

Firefighter-Paramedic Bernie Molloy shows the kids around the engine.

From Winter Gardens Elementary Show and Tell 2/19/10