Early Morning Crash Closes Southbound Highway 67

Foster-

On Tuesday, September 6, 2011, at 5:28 a.m., the Lakeside Fire Protection District received 911 calls reference a vehicle accident on Highway 67 north of Vigilante Rd. Two structural engines, one rescue company, two ALS medic units and a battalion chief were dispatched to the incident.

One of many vehicles heavily damaged in the incident.

On the arrival of Engine 2 (Eucalyptus Hills Station), they discovered an accident that included multiple vehicles with significant damage. One vehicle had flipped onto its roof while another had been catapulted onto the barrier wall. The crew started identifying injured occupants and assessing the need for extrication. On the arrival of Battalion 1 (Tockstein), command was established and additional equipment was requested.

Fire units were forced to park in the northbound lanes as southbound could not be accessed.

Rescue 3 (Lake Jennings Station) and Engine 4 (Cottonwood-SanteeFD) arrived and assisted in the treatment of two patients that had moderate injuries. A third patient was identified but her injuries did not appear life threatening. Medic 4 (Santee Fire) and Medic 9 (El Cajon Fire) transported patients to the trauma center at Sharp Memorial. An AMR ambulance transported a third patient to Pomerado Hospital.

The accident resulted in an extended shutdown of the southbound lanes of Highway 67 while tow crews worked to clear lanes.

A total of 7 Lakeside personnel responded to the incident, assisted by 5 personnel fro the Santee Fire Department, and 2 from the El Cajon Fire Department.

The accident is currently being investigated by CHP.

Dispatched Lakeside units: B1 E2 R3. Santee units: E4 M4. El Cajon units: M9

Submitted By: Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District
Photos By: Fire Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District

Wildcat Accident Sends Two to the Trauma Center

Wildcat Canyon-

On Labor Day, September 5, 2011, at 10:50 a.m., the Lakeside Fire Protection District received calls of an auto accident with a trapped victim in the 12800 block of Wildcat Canyon Rd. A joint response from the Lakeside and Barona fire agencies consisted of two structural engines, a truck company, a rescue company, two ALS medic units, and two battalion chiefs.

Firefighter-Paramedic Brian Moore communicates with the radio room at Sharp Memorial.

With the arrival of Battalion 8 (Kremensky-Barona), two moderate/acute trauma victims were located. One of the victims appeared to be trapped in the full size pick-up truck. The crew from Truck 27 (Barona) was able to open a door and make access to the injured occupant and initiate care.

The crew from Barona Truck 27 works on a patient that required extrication.

One victim showed signs of significant shock and was immediately transported by Medic 1 (Riverview fire station) to the trauma center at Sharp Memorial. With the arrival of Medic 3 (Lake Jennings fire station) the second victim was transported to the same facility.

The accident is currently being investigated by CHP. A total of 14 Lakeside personnel responded to the alarm, assisted by 4 personnel from the Barona Fire District.

Dispatched Lakeside units: B1 E2 E1 R3 M1 M3. Barona units: B8 T27.

Submitted By: Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District

Cyclist Injured in Remote Section of Lake Jennings

Lake Jennings Park-

On Sunday, September 4th, 2011 at 11:54AM, the Lakeside Fire District received a 911 call for the park rangers at Lake Jennings reference a cyclist that had taken a 15 foot fall in a remote section of the lake. A rescue company and ALS medic unit were dispatched to the scene.

The crew of Medic 3 load the injured cyclist into the ambulance.

The ranger staff at the lake led Medic 3 and Rescue 3 to an area east of the campground on a hiking trail. Crews assessed a patient with shoulder pain after a fall from a mountain bike. Crews were able to extricate the patient to the medic unit.

The patient was transported to a local hospital via Lakeside Medic 3.

Dispatched Lakeside units: R3 M3

Submitted By: Fire Captain Mark Grow

Lakeside Firefighters Climb to Honor 9-11 Responders

San Diego, CA -

 

A team of Lakeside firefighters were among several hundred firefighters, police officers, and civilians who participated in The San Diego 9-11 Memorial Stairclimb on September 3, 2011, at the Bayfront Hilton hotel. The event, which was hosted by the San Diego Fireman's Relief Association, is one of many held nationwide to honor both the responders and civilians who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Each participant committed to climb a total of 110 stories (the height of the twin towers in Manhattan) in honor of one of the 343 FDNY firefighters, 23 NYPD, and 37 Port Authority police officers who gave their lives in the line-of-duty that day.

The pre-climb ceremony included a presentation of colors by the Chula Vista Fire Department Color Guard and traditional music by the San Diego Firefighters Emerald Society pipes and drums.

The event was also a fundraiser for the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation and San Diego-based charity FirefighterAid.

 Lakeside firefighters consider it an honor to participate in such an important event and we ask that, as the anniversary of the 9-11 attacks approaches, everyone take some time to reflect on the events of that day and the sacrifices that were made. Above all, let's NEVER FORGET!

Our team climbed in honor of the following 9-11 responders:

FF John A. Schardt, Engine 201; FF Thomas W. Kelly, Ladder 15; PM Ricardo J. Quinn, EMS Battalion 57; FF Lincoln Quappe, Rescue 2; FF Robert W. Spear, Engine 26; Lt. Peter L Freund, Engine 55; Capt. Frank J. Callahan, Ladder 35; FF Lawrence Veling, Engine 235; Lt. Michael T. Quilty, Ladder 11; FF Michael Montesi, Rescue 1; FF Paul Ruback, Ladder 25.

From left, Lakeside Firefighters Bernie Molloy, Scott Culkin, Marc Poynter, Jon Jordan, Chuck Palmore, Beto Lawler, and Ian Lowe

Lakeside's team finishing strong!

Firefighter's kids  join us for an after-climb photo.

We climbed in memory of the 9-11 responders.

Story Submitted by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District
Photos by:  Anna Lowe and Jennifer Molloy

View more videos at: http://nbcsandiego.com.

Vehicle Crashes onto El Capitan Ball Field

Lakeside-

On Friday, September 2nd, 2011 at 3:07 a.m., the Lakeside Fire District received a call that a vehicle had left Ashwood Street and was now resting on the El Capitan High School baseball field. One structural engine, a rescue company, ALS medic unit, and battalion chief (Tockstein) were dispatched to the incident.

On the arrival of Battalion 1, he discovered a vehicle sitting in the middle of right field with an occupant still in the car. Engine 2 accessed the area and made contact with a sole occupant who had  minor complaints of pain. The occupant was evaluated by the paramedics assigned to Medic 3 and transported to Grossmont Hospital for further evaluation.

Fire personnel from Engine 2 and Medic 3 evaluate the only occupant in the vehicle.

Ironically, the car breached the fence at the same location of a previous incident, thus there was little new damage to the facility.  

CHP is currently investigating the accident. A total of 9 Lakeside Fire personnel responded to the early morning incident.

Submitted By: Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire Protection District

Engine 3 Handles Vehicle Fire

Camino Canada -

A vehicle fire in the parking lot of the Denny's restaurant brought the C-division crew from Lakeside's Lake Jennings fire station (fs3) on the morning of September 1, 2011. Despite bystander attempts to extinguish the fire with several dry chemical extinguishers, the engine compartment was well-involved with fire on the arrival of Engine 3. Firefighters donned breathing apparatus and knocked-down the fire with a preconnected hoseline and water from Engine 3's booster tank. 

Upon investigation, it appeared that the engine compartment had several nests of grass and dry leaves (probably rat or mice nests). The hot engine parts ignited the vegetation, sparking the fire.

Lakeside firefighter Shawn McKenna cools-off the engine compartment.

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

Multiple Fires Along I-8 Brings Multi-Agency Response

Alpine, CA -

Multiple small brush fires along Interstate Highway 8 brought a multi-agency response on Tuesday, August 30, 2011. Four separate fires were reported between Dunbar Lane and Tavern Road just after 2:30 p.m. Alpine Battalion 7 (Rushing) requested a high-wildland resource dispatch and along with Alpine 4701 (Paskle), coordinated the placement of incoming fire units to handle the four simultaneous fires. Additional chief officers from Lakeside, CalFire, and U.S. Forest Service responded to assist Tavern Incident Command with the direction of the numerous fire units assigned to the fires.

While the fires were relatively small in size, the smoke blowing across both east and westbound lanes created a real hazard for drivers on I-8.  Heartland Fire Communications dispatched Central Zone firefighters from Lakeside (B1, Br2, Br26, E3), Viejas (E25, Br225), Alpine (E17), San Miguel (E19), and El Cajon (E8). Additional resources responded from CalFire, U.S. Forest Service, BLM, and San Diego County Fire Authority. Two water-dropping helicopters were also assigned to the fires.

The rapid response and quick coordination of the assigned resources kept these fires from becoming a potentially much larger blaze.

Lakeside Engine 3 operates on I-8.

Lakeside Firefighter Shawn McKenna cutting line with a chainsaw.

Lakeside Engineer-Paramedic Chris Downing mops-up one of the fires.

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

Lakeside Firefighters Help Battle Barona Blaze

Barona- Just after 3:00 p.m. on Monday, August 29 ,2011, Lakeside firefighters were called to assist several other agencies with a vegetation fire that was burning on the Barona Indian Reservation in the 15000 block of Wildcat Canyon Rd near the intersection with San Vicente Rd.

The fire was initially reported as fast moving 20 acre blaze in light to medium fuels that was making a run up a west facing slope with a slight upslope wind on it. The combination of the light fuels, slope, and ambient temperatures above 100 degrees were ideal conditions for the fire to make a rapid spread. 

Heartland dispatched a high wildland at 3:10 pm , which included Units from Barona , Lakeside, and Santee Fire Departments. It was determined that the fire was moving toward the San Diego Country Estates so additionally a Type I strike team was requested for structure protection. Every station in Lakeside sent units to the fire, including Engine 1, Brush 2, Engine 3, Brush 26 and Battalion 1. Lakeside Fire stations were then supplemented with move up companies from San Miguel and La Mesa Fire. 

The fire grew rapidly but as resources arrived on scene it began to be controlled. The combined use of hose lines up the flanks of the fire and a heavy aerial attack with both fixed and rotary wing aircraft brought the fire to a halt at approximately 60 acres. The threat to the San Diego Country Estates neighborhood never materialized as the fire was stopped before it could reach any structures. The cause of this fire is under investigation.

We have seen a steady increase of fire activity from fire we had just down the street on August 7, 2011 and again the other fire we saw again just down the street on August 20, 2011. As we continue to see an increase in fire intensity over the summer as the fuel loads become more susceptible to fire spread.  This is a reminder that all people who own property in an urban interface area should continue to be vigilant about maintaining their defensible space. 


Story and Photos By:  Engineer/Paramedic Bernie Molloy
Addtional Photos By: Captain Rick Dalldorf
Video By: Captain Jerry Daoust