Fire Safe Your Home – Inside & Out

The vegetation surrounding a building or structure is fuel for a fire. Even the building or structure itself is considered fuel. Research and experience have shown that fuel reduction around a building or structure increases the probability of it surviving a wildfire.

Good defensible space allows firefighters to protect and save buildings or structures safely without facing unacceptable risk to their lives. Fuel reduction through vegetation management is the key to creating good defensible space.

The following link will connect you with some great information provide by the California Fire Safe Council:

http://www.firesafecouncil.org/education/attachments/getready.pdf

Early Morning Fire Destroys Trailer Home In El Cajon

At 7:03 a.m. Wednesday morning, El Cajon Fire crews responded to a trailer home fire at the Horseshoe Trailer Park, located at 150 South Anza, Space 1B. As crews arrived they found a 30-foot trailer home fully involved. Firefighters had the fire knocked down in less than 10 minutes. Their quick action kept the fire from spreading to nearby trailers, and the fire was contained to the one trailer and an attached patio area. An elderly man was at home, inside the trailer, when the fire started; he was able to escape unharmed.

Damage has been estimated at $50,000 for the one bedroom trailer home, and $7,000 for its contents. There were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is now under investigation, but it appears to be accidental. The American Red Cross is now assisting the displaced couple with temporary housing.

Note: There was no working smoke alarm in this trailer. The heat of the flames caused the man to wake up and escape. He was fortunate. In homes with no working smoke alarms most often occupants will die of smoke inhalation before flames reach them. Make sure your home has a working smoke alarm, one for each level of your home, and another just outside the sleeping areas for added protection. For additional safety information please visit our website at www.elcajonfire.com.

Photos taken by El Cajon Deputy Fire Marshal Tom Hamma

Graduation Day for the 19th Heartland Fire Academy

CONTACT: Monica Zech
Public Information Officer
(619) 441-1737 – office
(619) 843-7218 – cell

Monday is Graduation Day for the 19th Heartland Fire 1 Academy. These twenty-one graduates successfully completed 14-weeks (488 hours) of firefighter training at the Heartland Training facility in El Cajon. The graduation ceremony will be held on Monday, April 20th, 6:00 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Community Center, located at 195 East Douglas Avenue in El Cajon.

Among the graduates are those taking positions as firefighters, reserve firefighters and six are open enrollment students from Miramar College. Fire graduates will be joining El Cajon Fire, Alpine, Bonita, Coronado, Lakeside and Mt. Laguna Fire Departments.

Several Fire Chiefs will be there to officially welcome their new firefighters and reserve firefighters. They are: El Cajon Fire Chief Mike Scott, Alpine Fire Chief Bill Paskle, Bonita Fire Chief Scott Walker, Coronado Fire Chief Kim Raddatz and Mt. Laguna Fire Chief Dennis Sherman.

The San Diego Firefighters Emerald Society Bagpipe & Drum Band will be a part of the opening ceremonies as they lead the graduates into the room.

Each graduate successfully completed the Heartland Firefighter Academy which consists of both classroom instruction and manipulative practice. Academy classes were held every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday for 14 weeks, approximately ten hours per day. Some of the graduates are Reserve Firefighters, an auxiliary position with the El Cajon Fire Department. It is an opportunity for those interested in a fire service career to get valuable hands-on experience while giving back to the community. For information about the El Cajon Reserve Firefighter program please visit www.elcajonfire.com.

Cake and punch will be provided following the graduation ceremony.