Header Photo : Terri Nielsen
LABOR REP : JEFF ALLEN
RON WALLS DIVISION CHIEF
BY BOB MACK ( RJM )
2016 started off quickly ! Once again Division 2 shows what it means to be an all-risk fire , rescue and EMS agency . In this edition of Division News , you will see a snapshot of various types of calls that the men and women of San Bernardino County Fire District respond to on a daily basis .
INCIDENTS
PHELAN TRAFFIC COLLISION
On the evening of Feb 15 , SBCoFD received reports of a traffic collision with extrication at the intersection of Duncan and Johnson Roads Phelan . Medic Engine 10 arrived several minutes after dispatch and reported two vehicles with major damage and one person still trapped in a small pickup truck . Due to the complexity of the extrication , Rescue 40 was requested from Oak Hills . The combined crews worked for approximately 40 minutes to free the driver from the wreckage . Once extricated , the patient was treated by County Fire paramedics and transported to a nearby landing zone where care was transferred to an awaiting Mercy Air helicopter crew . Due to the severity of injuries , this patient required transport to an out-of-area trauma hospital . In total , County Fire responded with two paramedic engine companies , one heavy rescue unit , one paramedic ambulance and one battalion chief for a total of 12 personnel .
LUCERNE VALLEY MCI
On the afternoon of March 27 , Station 8 received reports of a traffic collision in the area of Barstow and Rabbit Springs Roads in the community of Lucerne Valley . First arriving units reported 10 vehicles and two tractor trailers involved . Crews also reported dust blowing in the area causing zero visibility . While conducting initial patient assessment several more collisions occurred , resulting in more injuries . With additional vehicles now involved County Fire declared a mass casualty incident , which dispatched additional paramedic engines , chief officers and numerous additional ground ambulances to the scene . Initial patient count was approximately 30 injured , most of which were
Engineer / Paramedic Travis Grapes is proud to support the county ’ s Vision2Read program . walking wounded . Only three patients required transport , one of whom sustained major injuries and was transported by ground ambulance to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center . Two other patients were transported to St . Mary ’ s Hospital in Apple Valley . County Fire responded with four paramedic engine companies , one paramedic ambulance , one battalion chief and two division chiefs for a total of 17 personnel . Several AMR ambulances also assisted . The cause of the accident is currently under investigation by the California Highway Patrol .
Recently , crews from Phelan and Wrightwood hosted a multi-company drill with L . A . County Fire Air Operations .
HESPERIA
On March 1 , crews received several reports of a structure fire at the 16400 block of Juniper Street in the City of Hesperia . Initial reports stated that heavy smoke and fire were coming from the windows of an abandoned house . Medic Engine 22 arrived on scene in seven minutes to find a fully engulfed , single-story abandoned structure with heavy fire coming from all windows . Fire attack was initiated with a priority to protect the adjacent homes , which were directly threatened . Once the exposure threat was mitigated , crews extinguished the fire in about 25 minutes . Firefighters were initially hampered by security bars throughout the exterior of the home . No injuries to firefighters or civilians were reported . County Fire responded with four paramedic engine companies , one paramedic truck company , one battalion chief and one fire investigator for a total of 16 personnel .
HESPERIA APARTMENT FIRE
On March 12 Division 2 units received reports of a commercial structure fire in the 16000 block of Yucca St . in the City of Hesperia . Initial reports stated smoke was coming from a vacant apartment unit . Medic Engine 302 arrived six minutes later and reported smoke showing . The crew went in to the offensive attack mode in an effort to contain the fire the apartment of origin , while subsequent arriving crews set up vertical ventilation and supported the attack crews . A primary search was performed , which checked clear for any potential victims . The fire was knocked down in approximately 15 minutes . County Fire responded with three paramedic engine companies , two paramedic truck companies , one battalion chief and a fire investigator . There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians .
TRAINING
On February 23-25 , Division 2 crews participated in a multi-agency drill at Mountain High ’ s north resort . The purpose of the training drill was to solidify interagency operations as they pertain to rescues in the winter environment along the Los Angeles / San Bernardino County lines . Emergency calls for service from Mt . Baldy up through Wrightwood and the Big Pines area often involve agencies from both counties , with responses frequently moving through multiple jurisdictions . From local government controlled lands to both the Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests , proper notification , communications , and interoperability are keystones to successful mitigation of incidents occurring in this region .
Spring 2016 • FIREWIRE 9