Every 15 minutes

Every 15 minutes in the United States someone is killed or seriously injured by a drunk driver and a majority of these are teenagers. On March 31st CAL FIRE/Ramona Fire department along with the California Highway Patrol put on the "Every 15 Minute Program". In front of Ramona High School a vehicle accident was staged using the local students. One student was killed and two injured and a third student was arrested for drinking and driving. With the Junior and Seniors looking on they witnessed the damage drinking and driving can have on peoples lives. CAL FIRE wants to remind teenagers to never drink and drive and you will arrive alive.

Vehicle plunges 300 feet off Interstate 8

On the morning of March 30Th 2010, CAL FIRE received a report of a traffic collision east bound Interstate 8 near the Imperial County line. Reports indicated the vehicle was approximately 250 feet over the side. Engine 7413 arrived on scene and determined the vehicle was at least 300 feet of the side in a remote area in Interstate 8. As additional engine companies arrived a rope rescue system was established to make access to the patient and determine the extent of his injuries. Remarkably the 23 year old male driver only received minor injuries. Due to the mechanism of injury the patient was transported to an awaiting medical helicopter for further treatment and transport to Desert Regional Hospital in Palm Springs.

Copter 10 performs Hoist Rescue near Pinyon Mountain

March 27Th 2010- Copter 10 was dispatched to assist State Parks and CAL FIRE engine companies for an off road vehicle roll over at the “Drop Off” in Pinyon Mountain. This area is inaccessible by emergency vehicles. When Copter 10 arrived California Highway Patrol Helicopter H-60 was at scene providing medical treatment to the injured. CHP requested Copter 10 to hoist the patient from the bottom of drainage to H-60’s location for transport. The patient was safely hoisted and transported to a local hospital.

Copter 10 Performs Hoist Rescue in Borrego Springs

March 25Th-Copter 10 was dispatched to assist the Borrego Springs FD with a hiker who had broken her leg on the hiking trail of Palm Canyon in Borrego Springs. Due to the remote location of the patient Copter 10 hoisted the patient to safety. An awaiting ambulance transported the victim to Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage.

CAL FIRE Cooperators meeting

On March 25Th CAL FIRE/ San Diego hosted a local cooperators meeting in Spring Valley with executive staff Sacramento and the local unit. This is a chance for our local partners and the department to meet and review the benefits of their current contracts. Chief Howard Windsor addressed the importance of additional meetings to continue to deliver the best customer service to our partners. It is CAL FIRE’S goal to continuously strive to deliver the best possible service for the citizens in the communities we protect. CAL FIRE/San Diego provides fire protection to 1.4 million acres of state responsibility area and serves as the fire department for the following communities: Deer Springs, Valley Center, Ramona, Pine Valley, Yuima, San Diego Rural and the San Diego County fire Department.

Deer Springs vehicle accident requires extrication

Monday March 22, 2010 9:05 am CAL FIRE-Deer Springs Fire Department responded to a reported vehicle rollover North Centre City Parkway (just North of Escondido). When firefighters arrived they encountered a passenger vehicle on it roof, two of the three occupants in the vehicle required extrication. The vehicle was traveling north bound Interstate 15 when it rear ended another vehicle. The impact caused the vehicle to leave the Interstate rollover and land approximately 100ft away. Three patients were transported to local hospitals (one to Sharp, two to Palomar).

ARSONIST RECEIVES 15 YEAR PRISON SENTENCE

San Diego County – On Wednesday March 3rd, Shane Daniel McClung, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for intentionally setting a structure on fire near the community of Boulevard, in September 2009.

After a comprehensive investigation involving CAL FIRE, the San Diego County Sheriffs Department’s Bomb and Arson Unit and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, McClung pled guilty to one count of arson, (California Penal Code section 451.1), which resulted in the 15 year sentence, and a second strike.

This was the second time fire investigators dealt with McClung in San Diego County, he was found guilty of committing a series of arson fires in the community of Rincon in 2005, from which he was released from prison in 2009.

Federal Stimulus Money Buys New Fire Engine

Warner Springs and the San Diego County region are safer after the County used approximately $475,000 in federal stimulus money to buy a new Type 1 fire engine to improve backcountry protection.

The 21-ton fire truck can fight wildfires and structural blazes, pump water from its 500-gallon tank or siphon it from ponds, pools or other water sources, has a 24-foot extension ladder, carries full medical gear and up to six firefighters. The engine is owned by the County but will be stationed in Warner Springs to serve that community. It will also provide mutual aid to help fight wildfires to keep them from endangering the region like the 2003 and 2007 firestorms. Warner Springs is a "hub" location that can easily provide mutual aid to numerous neighboring communities.

"Placing a new engine in Warner Springs will help protect the entire region," said County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Pam Slater-Price. "This new, valuable piece of equipment will help the County fire Authority fight fires and provide emergency medical care for people in the backcountry."

In the last five years, the County has purchased 33 fire engines and other equipment, and formed the San Diego County Fire Authority, to improve fire protection and emergency medical response throughout San Diego County.

"Bolstering the County's firefighting resources is a great way of putting federal stimulus dollars to work for San Diego County," said Supervisor Bill Horn, whose district includes Warner Springs. "Since 2007 we've made major strides to strengthen our fire protection system by buying and sharing firefighting resources. Our entire region will benefit from having this new engine."

The new fire engine was purchased with federal stimulus funds awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to the County's Housing and Community Development Department through a Community Development Block Grant. For a complete list of the County's stimulus-funded projects, please visit www.recoverysdcounty.org.

Copter 12 Performs Hoist Rescue near Mexican Border

On Sunday March 14th Copter 12 was dispatched to assist CAL FIRE Engine 3383 with a motorcyclist down in a remote area ofTecate Peak along the Mexican border. Prior to Copter 12 being dispatched San Diego Sheriff Department's Astrea 1 located the patient. When Copter 12 arrived on scene they lowered a rescuer approximately 108 feet to render aid to the injured 44 year old male patient. Copter 12 transported the patient to an awaiting ambulance for further treatment. This incident is another great example of multi agency cooperation between CAL FIRE and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

New Paint for the S2T Airtanker