The following is a listing of some of the local calls for service involving the Modesto Fire Department, which staffs Stations 27, 28, 29 and 30 in Oakdale, Knights Ferry and Valley Home as part of Battalion 5; and the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Department, covering the Riverbank area, as part of Battalion 2.
Calls were logged during the time period of Tuesday, June 17 through Monday, June 23. Days not listed had no reports of significant incidents in this area.
MONDAY, JUNE 23
MST Companies attended First Due RMS training at the RFTC.
Battalion 2: Crews rotated through First Due training.
Monday apparatus maintenance occurred across the battalion.
Battalion 5: Crews performed Monday apparatus checks, station yard maintenance, performed company level training in their respective FMA’s and completed Target Solutions assignments.
Cal Fire handcrews from Baseline Fire Center began the fuel reduction project near Kerr Park in Oakdale. The project will put in much needed fire breaks and help reduce the extreme fire threat.
1:30 p.m. – Engine 27 responded for a report of a vehicle on fire. Engine 27 arrived on scene to a postal truck with an engine compartment fire. Engine 27 was able to quickly extinguish the fire and prevent the fire from spreading to the mail cargo and the nearby vegetation.
SUNDAY, JUNE 22
Battalion 2: 2:01 p.m. – Grass 23, Water Tender 23, and BC2 responded with mutual aid to Hughson to assist on a vegetation fire on South Sante Fe.
Crews began rotating through RMS training at the Regional Fire Training Center.
2:29 p.m. – Engine 7, Brush 28, OES 4617, OES 4618, Water Tender 27, Water Tender 23, and BC2 and BC5 responded to Langworth Road for trees and grass on fire. First arriving crews found a commodity fire that had gotten into a half-acre of vegetation. Crews worked with onsite resources to place the incident under control.
Battalion 5: Companies rotated through the RFTC for training on the new records management program First Due.
Brush 28 checked on the previous fires along the Stanislaus River at the end of Burchell Hill. No fire activity, hot spots or smoke noted.
OES 4617, Water Tender 27, Brush 28 and BC5 assisted other crews at a vegetation fire and shred pile fire on Langworth Road.
SATURDAY, JUNE 21
Technical rescue team members trained on confined space entry techniques.
Battalion 2: Companies completed daily apparatus and equipment checks.
Crews completed company level training.
Battalion 5: Crews performed apparatus checks and station maintenance, performed company level training in their respective FMA’s and completed Target Solutions assignments.
Engine 12 and Engine 29 trained on hose evolutions and ladder throws at Fire Station 30 in Valley Home.
Engine 7 and Engine 26 trained on deployment of the RAM and hose stretches.
Oakdale crews continued to patrol and mop up the Burchell Court fire.
4:30 a.m. – Engine 28, Engine 27, Water Tender 27, and Battalion 5 responded to the report of a tractor trailer fire on a gasoline fuel truck. Engine 28 arrived on scene with a full tanker truck carrying gasoline with a rear tire and fuel discharge area on fire. Engine 28 was able to quickly extinguish the fire preventing catastrophic failure of the tank. Crews remained on scene until the truck could be safely off loaded.
1:29 p.m. – Engine 27, Water Rescue 28, WR26 and Battalion 5 responded to a water rescue in the 1200 block of Hollenbeck Court in the City of Oakdale. Crews arrived on scene and located five stranded kayakers that were stuck on the side of the bank. The party had become separated and were unable to get out. WR28 was able to ferry all the kayakers to the other side of the river where they were able to walk out.
FRIDAY, JUNE 20
Battalion 2: Companies completed daily apparatus and equipment checks.
12:30 p.m. – OES 4615, Grass/Water Tender 23, Brush 28, and Battalion 2 responded to a vegetation fire at La Grange Road/Cooperstown Road. The fire turned out to be north of the location in Tuolumne County. MST crews assisted Cal Fire in suppressing the 173- acre fire.
Battalion 5: Crews performed apparatus checks and station maintenance, performed company level training in their respective FMA’s and completed Target Solutions assignments.
Brush 28, OES 4617, OES 4618, Grass 21, Brush 23, Water Tender 27 and Battalion 5 spent a total of nine hours overhauling a fire from Thursday night. Crews were faced with heavy vegetation and thick duff making it labor intensive to mop up. Crews will continue to check for hot spots the next few days. A thank you is offered to the citizens of Oakdale that provided a large container of snacks; it was a kind gesture.
Brush 28, and OES 4615 assisted Cal Fire on the Camino Fire in Tuolumne County.
THURSDAY, JUNE 19
Training continued the training on the TDA academy.
Battalion 2: Battalion 2 companies responded to multiple incidents across several areas in MST during the afternoon.
Battalion 5: Crews completed daily apparatus and equipment checks.
Engine 27 trained on portable master streams and Probationary Firefighter sign offs.
Battalion 5 managed resources during the numerous working incidents in MST.
Engine 29 and Battalion 5 attended the Oakdale Fire District Board Meeting in Valley Home.
2:03 p.m. – Engine 28 to Warnerville Road for an unknown type fire. Initially dispatched as a smoke check, Engine 28 had a large column of black smoke showing. Engine/Water Tender 27 and Battalion 5 were added to the call. Crews arrived on scene with a large pile of railroad ties burning. Firefighters were able to quickly contain the fire and spent the next hour mopping up.
11:04 p.m. – Brush 28, OES 4617, Water Tender 27, Brush 24, Grass/Water Tender 23, OES 4618, OES 4615, Cal Fire Engine 4486, Escalon Water Tender 1-1 and Battalion 5 to Burchell Hill Drive for a vegetation fire. Crews arrived on scene with one to two acres of river bottom on fire with a rapid rate of spread. Due to wind conditions and rapid fire spread, additional resources were requested. Firefighters had the fire contained in 45 minutes to four acres, spending the next three hours mopping up. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18
The training division continued with the TDA academy at the RFTC working on engineer sign offs on the tiller apparatus.
Battalion 2: Captains Crabtree and Zurilgen are student-teaching their last class before being signed off as State Certified Instructors for SwiftWater Rescue Technician.
Battalion 5: Crews completed daily apparatus and equipment checks.
Engine 29 completed weekly apparatus checks and station maintenance at Station 30.
Engine 27 trained on forcible entry, hose line deployment and Probationary Firefighter sign offs.
Battalion 5 managed resources during the numerous working incidents in MST.
TUESDAY, JUNE 17
The TDA academy continued training at the Regional Fire Training Center.
Battalion 2: 7:38 a.m. – Engine 7, Engine 9, Engine 26, Engine 27, Engine 28, Truck 5, Battalions 1, 5 and Chief 9 responded to Secretariat Court in Riverbank for a working structure fire. First arriving crews found a stove top fire that extended into the attic of the home. Firefighters were able to quickly pull ceiling and extinguish the fire. Two residents were displaced. They were assisted by Red Cross and with a California Fire Foundation SAVE card. The FIU is investigating.
5:18 p.m. – Water Rescue 26, Water Rescue 28, and BC5 assisted San Joaquin crews on the Stanislaus River at Jacob Myers Park during a search for a missing swimmer.
Battalion 5: Crews completed daily apparatus and equipment checks.
Battalion 5 trained with the on-duty Battalion Chiefs on rural water supply operations.
Engine 27 and Engine 29 trained on boat operator sign offs.
