On March 17, Fire crews from Station 5 were dispatched to San Pasqual Valley Road and 17th Ave for reports of a vehicle fire. When the first engine arrived on scene, crews discovered a two-vehicle head on collision accident, with seven patients in need of care. Five patients were transported to various hospitals with varying degrees of injury, while the other two were treated at the scene. California Highway Patrol is investigating this accident.
On March 21, the Escondido Police and Fire Communication Center received a call from a hiker at Daley Ranch that had been bitten by a rattlesnake. The Center used GPS and assistance from the City Rangers to help narrow down the location of the hiker. The Rangers were able to locate the victim and drive him out to an ambulance that was staged at The Ranch House. While in case of paramedics the victim began to have a systemic reaction to the bite and was transported to Palomar Medical Center for treatment. Great work by all of the departments involved to locate, remove, treat and transport this individual.
Also, on March 21, Fire crews from Station 4 were dispatched to the
700 block of El Dorado Dr for reports of smoke in the area. When crews arrived, they found 3 transformers smoking heavily on a power pole. Assistance from SDG&E was requested. Transformers contain an oil that insulates and cools them. Occasionally, the transformer can malfunction and begin to smoke and even possibly catch fire. Fire cannot extinguish a transformer fire until the electricity is turned off by a qualified SDG&E technician. Luckily, these transformers just smoked, with no fire and SDG&E was able to isolate the area without further incidence. The area however was without power for several hours, while this transformer was repaired.
On March 22, the Escondido Police & Fire Communication Center received a report of a residential structure fire on Terrace View Place. The first arriving Engine Company reported heavy fire from the rear of the residence. Further investigation revealed a well-established fire
in the attic of a duplex home. Aggressive firefighting contained the fire to the attic of one unit. However, the primary fire building sustained heavy smoke and water damage. The adjacent unit received minor smoke and water damage. Firefighters remained on scene for nearly 2 hours doing extensive salvage and overhaul.
On March 23, Fire Station 1 crews hosted the second half of the “Guns and Hoses” event for our citizens and business owners/tenants in Escondido. This event is coordinated by Escondido Police Department (EPD) that begins with the group being briefed at Police and Fire Headquarters and then brought to the Police range for a morning of Firearm’s training. After lunch, Guests arrived at Fire Station 1 just in time for the rain. Despite the rain, activities continued with a Fire Department briefing and tour, as well as participation in some fire ground operations for those not deterred by the weather. A great time was had by all! Thank you EPD for continually organizing such a great event.
