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, July 25 through Monday, July 31. Days not listed had no reports of significant incidents in this area.
MONDAY, JULY 31
Battalion 2: 10:36 p.m. – Engine 26 and E27 responded to a vehicle fire at Highway 108 and Mesa. On arrival crews located a 4x4 pick up that was stuck and started a quarter-acre vegetation fire.
Battalion 5: Crews completed daily apparatus and equipment checks, along with station maintenance.
6:19 p.m. – Brush 28, Grass/WT 27, Engine/Brush 29, Brush/WT 23 and Battalion 5 to Frankenheimer Road for a vegetation fire. Crews arrived on scene to find two to three acres of light flashy fuel with a slow rate of spread. Firefighters were able to quickly contain the fire to 2.6 acres. They spent the next hour mopping up hot spots.
8:41 p.m. – Engine 9, 27, 23 and Battalion 5 to Oakdale Waterford Highway, cross of Claribel for a vehicle accident. Crews arrived on scene to find one vehicle through a power pole into an orchard with power lines down. Firefighters searched the area and found that the driver had fled. Crews remained on scene waiting for PG&E.
SUNDAY, JULY 30
OES 4615 continues to be assigned to the Bonny Incident in Riverside County as part of Strike Team XSJ 4308. Crews worked a 24-hour operational period assigned to Division L. Crews worked on mopping up and placing hose lays to support firing operations.
Battalion 2: Skills practice at PHI for some of our paramedic students.
Battalion 5: Modesto Utility/Skid Steer 17, Engine 27, Water Tender 27, and CalFire continued to complete mop-up at the Gray Incident that occurred on July 29 in the 12000 block of Orange Blossom Road. The fire was declared out in the afternoon and all units were clear.
Modesto Engine 27, Water Tender 27, Brush 28, and BC5 along with a full wildland response from CalFire; responded to a vehicle fire that was catching vegetation on fire at Woodward Reservoir. Brush 28 arrived on scene and extinguished the car fire and a 30’x30’ area of vegetation that had burned. All responding units were cancelled except for Engine 27, Water Tender 27, and one CalFire Engine.
SATURDAY, JULY 29
Modesto OES 4615 was sent to the Bonny Fire in Riverside County as part of a strike team from San Joaquin County. The fire is one of multiple fires that are actively burning in the south part of the state. The fire is currently 2206 acres with 5 percent containment.
Battalion 2: Crews spent the day cleaning up and restocking after the previous day’s calls.
All Battalion 2 units assisted with a fire in Battalion 5. Multiple buildings were saved, and the fire spread was stopped at 12.24 acres.
Battalion 5: 2:50 p.m. – Modesto Engine 27, Water Rescue 29, and BC5 were dispatched to a water rescue at Woodward Reservoir for a report of a juvenile that was on a raft and is now missing. Stanislaus County Sherriff’s and Modesto Engine 27 contacted the reporting party and were able to confirm that the juvenile was accounted for.
3:13 p.m. – Modesto Water Rescue 29 came across a vegetation fire in the 12000 block of Orange Blossom Road while returning from the water rescue call at Woodward Reservoir. After making access to the property Captain 29 requested a structure fire response along with a full wildland response due to multiple vehicles and vegetation on fire threatening multiple structures. CalFire TCU took the incident as it was in the State Response Area and sent a full wildland response. After nearly three hours the fire was contained to 12 acres with multiple outbuildings and vehicles damaged. Crews remained on scene throughout the night.
7:43 p.m. – Modesto Water Rescue 28, Water Rescue 29, Engine 18, and BC5 were dispatched to a water rescue in the 10000 block of Rodden Road on the Stanislaus River. A total of eight people were stuck on the river’s edge with no way to make it up the riverbank. Water Rescue 28 and 29 located all the people and brought them safely to shore.
FRIDAY, JULY 28
Battalion 2: 11:52 a.m. – The Hughson Fire Protection District was dispatched to a vegetation fire near Downie Road and Whitmore Avenue. This area is near the border with Station 24’s area. MST units were also dispatched for a potential structure fire on Whitmore Avenue. E24 advised there was a large black column of black smoke and upgraded to a working fire. The call was one and the same and in Hughson’s District. Several hundred tires, grass, and other items on the property were burning. Engines 21, 23, 24, 28, 33, WT 21, and WT23 assisted Hughson and multiple other County Fire units to contain the fire. The fire was contained in approximately three hours. FIU is investigating.
Battalion 5: E27 performed company level training focusing on hose pulls and estimations.
12:15 p.m. – E27, Grass 3, Grass 26, Brush 29 and Battalion 5 were dispatched to the 8900 block of Rice Road in the Oakdale Rural Fire District for a vegetation fire with multiple pieces of equipment threatened. Battalion 5 arrived and reported 1.5 acres on fire in a mowed field with multiple pieces of equipment either on fire or threatened. E27 extinguished the equipment while all others contained the vegetation fire. The incident consumed two acres of a mowed hay field and a large tire of an earth moving Caterpillar.
THURSDAY, JULY 27
MST recruit firefighter graduation and promotional ceremony was held at the Centre Plaza in Modesto.
Battalion 2: E24, Q22 and BC2 responded to a vehicle accident on Yosemite near H Street in Waterford. On arrival E24 reported two minor injuries and cancelled the balance.
Battalion 5: Crews completed daily apparatus and equipment checks, along with station maintenance.
10:18 a.m. – Engine 27, Engine 29 and Battalion 2 to Highway 108 for a vehicle accident. Crews arrived on scene to find two vehicles off the roadway with two delayed patients. Firefighters assisted with treating and packaging those patients. They were transported to local hospitals for further treatment.
7:54 p.m. – Engine 27, 28 and Battalion 5 to Poplar and Warrington for a vehicle accident with pin in. Crews arrived on scene to find two vehicles involved with one on its roof. All patients had self-extricated and refused treatment. OPD was on scene to investigate.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 26
Battalion 2: 2:29 p.m. – A full vegetation response was sent to Albers north of Yosemite for a vegetation fire. B23/WT23 arrived and reported 30’ roadside vegetation fire that they could handle. The balance was returned.
Battalion 5: Crews completed daily apparatus and equipment checks, along with station maintenance.
Crews performed drivers training, focusing on water tender operations.
TUESDAY, JULY 25
The command staff all met at Modesto Fire administration building.
Engine companies made some minor adjustments to the hose load.
Battalion 2: Members from Tamazula, Mexico sister city to Riverbank, stopped by and picked up a donation of firefighting personal protective equipment.
7:56 p.m. – E26, E7, Q22 and BC5 responded to the report of smoke coming from an interior wall in the 2500 block of Dobbins Lane in Riverbank. On arrival, with nothing showing, E26 found there was an outlet showing 300 degrees on the TIC. They opened the wall and found a burned outlet. The balance was returned, E26 was able to isolate the power.
Battalion 5: Companies completed company level training.
Engine 28 conducted orientation/training with a probationary firefighter riding from the MST academy.
6:47 a.m. – Engine 28, Engine 27 and BC5 responded to a reported motor vehicle accident on Lon Dale Road. Engine 28 arrived to find two vehicles involved and began to check for injuries. Engine 28 confirmed the accident was non-injury and canceled the balance. CHP investigating.
