It was another busy week for firefighters out of Station 28 in Oakdale, operating under the Modesto Fire Department, with some calls also reported by the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Department in Riverbank.
On Friday, May 15 shortly after 2 p.m., Modesto Fire Department and Ceres Fire Department were dispatched with Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District to the report of a commercial working structure fire on the 300 block of South Riverside Drive in Riverbank. According to the Modesto Fire report, the fire was described as a fire that started in a homeless camp threatening a building and spread to nearby vegetation. Crews arrived on scene and began to extinguish the fires and check the interior of the building for extension. The fire was contained to the exterior of the building. The Stanislaus County Fire Investigation Unit is investigating the fire cause.
Later that day, about 4:30 p.m., Modesto Engine 28, Grass 30, Brush 27, Water Tender 27, Battalion 5, and two Engines and Battalion from Cal Fire responded to reports of a vegetation fire close to a structure in the 14000 block of 26-Mile Road in Oakdale. Crews arrived on scene with approximately five acres on fire. Units at the scene were able to contain the fire quickly and the Cal Fire response was cancelled. Farm equipment operating in the grass caused the accidental fire. There was no damage to the structure or equipment and no injuries reported.
On Saturday night, May 16 shortly after 11 p.m., Modesto Engine 30, Rescue 28, and Battalion 5 responded to reports of a subject trapped in farming equipment at Highway 4 and Milton. PHI Med 4-1 Helicopter, Oak Valley Ambulance and Stanislaus Sheriff also responded. Battalion 5 requested Cal Fire to assist as the location was updated as farther east of Milton. Crews arrived on scene to find one patient who self-extricated but was injured. The patient was transported via helicopter. Engine 30 provided assistance at the landing zone as PHI Med 4-1 landed in the field adjacent.
Calls earlier in the week, on Thursday, May 14 included a vehicle accident and smoke in a structure.
Shortly before 3 p.m. on May 14, Engine 28, Engine 27, Engine 30, Cal Fire Engine 4486 and BC 5 responded to a reported motor vehicle accident on Highway120/108 near Knights Ferry. Engine 28 arrived to find a single vehicle rollover and began to check for injuries. One person was on scene and was out of the vehicle.
Half an hour later, about 3:30 p.m., Engine 28, Engine 27, Engine 30, Quint 22 and BC 5 responded to a potential structure fire in the 10000 block of Arbini Road in Oakdale for a report of smoke in the basement of a residence. Crews arrived and isolated the issue to an overheated motor.
Modesto crews also responded with Stanislaus Consolidated on a vegetation fire at Orange and First streets in Riverbank about 4 a.m. Thursday; an estimated one-eighth of an acre burned with crews getting the fire under control.
