Heartland Fire & Rescue

MAN PINNED UNDER FALLEN TREE IN EL CAJON DIES

East County News Service

Update July 10, 2023: The Medical Examiner has identified the deceased as Gary Zing, 59.

July 5, 2023 (El Cajon) – Heartland Fire & Rescue responded to a 9-1-1 call at 11:10 a.m. requesting help for a man who fell while cutting down a large tree at his property at 1962 Altozano Way in El Cajon.  Fire crews found that the tree had fallen onto the victim.

“Paramedics attempted to render aid but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene,” says Andy McKellar, emergency preparedness coordinator at Heartland Fire & Rescue.


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HEARTLAND FIREFIGHTERS RESCUE WOMAN FROM STORM CHANNEL IN EL CAJON USING NEWLY DONATED SWIFT WATER RESCUE GEAR

East County News Service

View video: https://www.facebook.com/CityOfElCajon/videos/3043747972534333 \

October 27, 2021 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon and Heartland Fire & Rescue shared a video on its Facebook and Instagram accounts recounting a recent rescue by firefighters using swift water rescue equipment recently received through a grant from the Firehouse Sub Public Safety Foundation. The equipment was received just two weeks prior to the rescue


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FIREFIGHTERS RESCUE TREE TRIMMER TRAPPED ATOP PALM IN SPRING VALLEY

By Miriam Raftery

 

Photo via San Miguel Fire on Instagram

 

May 9, 2021 (Spring Valley) - Crews from San Miguel and Heartland Fire Rescue rescued a tree trimmer Friday.  “Units arrived on scene to find the worker pinned to the tree approximately 75 feet up. His rigging, harness, and legs were compressed by the weight of the heavy skirt of dead fronds which had given way,” San Miguel posted on Instagram.


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HOUSE FIRE DISPLACES LA MESA RESIDENT

By Miriam Raftery

July 29, 2020 (La Mesa) – A home in La Mesa was destroyed Tuesday, last night, in a fire that also caused minor damage to a neighboring residence.

Crews from Heartland Fire & Rescue in La Mesa and Lemon Grove responded, along with San Miguel Fire and San Diego Fire departments, to the blaze reported in the 4900 block of Williams Avenue in La Mesa around 8:15 p.m.

Fire crews arrived within six minutes to discover a  one-story single family dwelling with heavy fire and smoke.


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HEARTLAND FIRE SEEKS PARAMEDIC/FIREFIGHTER RECRUITS

 

 

Source: Heartland Fire & Rescue

January 24, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- Heartland Fire & Rescue is currently recruiting for the position of Paramedic/Firefighter. The agencies is looking for individuals who are just starting off their career or are looking for a lateral opportunity.


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HEARTLAND FIRE & RESCUE APPOINTS NEW CHIEF

 

Source: Heartland Fire & Rescue

Photo:  Steve Swaney, new Heartland Fire Chief

October 17, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) --The Cities of El Cajon, La Mesa and Lemon Grove, which jointly manage Heartland Fire & Rescue, have selected Steve Swaney as the next Fire Chief.  The City Managers for the three cities (Graham Mitchell of El Cajon, Yvonne Garrett of La Mesa, and Lydia Romero of Lemon Grove) made the announcement that Swaney will begin serving in this capacity on October 20, 2018.  Chief Swaney replaces Colin Stowell, who recently was appointed Fire Chief for the City of San Diego.


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A MILLION PUNCHES FROM THE HEART: PUNCHING OUT RACISM, GANG VIOLENCE AND MISTRUST OF POLICE SEPT. 16 IN EL CAJON

 

By Valerie Watts

September 11, 2017 (El Cajon) – Imagine a fire station hung with heavy punching bags, filled with youth, community members, police and firefighters all furiously punching away for 60 seconds at a time.  On Saturday, September 16 from 8 a.m. until noon, the public is invited to help firefighters and police officers "punch out racism, gang violence and mistrust of the police." Heartland Fire & Rescue Fire Station 6 at 100 East Lexington Avenue in El Cajon will be hosting this event put on by "ABC Youth Foundation:  an after school boxing, tutoring and mentorship program that serves at risk youth in San Diego." 


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FIRE CAUSES $300,000 IN DAMAGE AT LA MESA HOME

 

 

East County News Service

February 4, 2016 (La Mesa) -- Heartland Fire and Rescue crews from La Mesa and El Cajon responded to a house fire in the 7500 block of Seton Hall Street in La Mesa at 5:10 p.m. Fire crews arrived within 4 minutes to report a single story, single family dwelling with heavy smoke coming from the garage.


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FIRE DESTROYS MOBILE HOME IN LA MESA



 

November 23, 2015 (La Mesa)- A fire on Wednesday morning destroyed a mobile home in the 7400 block of Oakland Road in La Mesa.  The loss is estimated at $50,000, including contents.


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FIRE OUTSIDE ALBERTSONS IN LA MESA

 

East County News Service

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

August 29, 2015 (La Mesa) – The Albertson’s grocery store on Fletcher Parkway in La Mesa was evacuated around 2 a.m. on August 26th due to a fire the erupted in trees between the store and State Route 125.


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SENATOR ANDERSON HOSTS EMERGENCY RESOURCE FAIR AT PARKWAY PLAZA AUG. 22

 

August 17, 2015 (El Cajon) – The public is invited to an Emergency Resource Fair at Parkway Plaza mall in El Cajon on Saturday, August 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. organized by Senator Joel Anderson. You can learn about earthquake safety, fire safety and how to prepare for emergencies. Organizations participating include American Medical Response, Community Emergency Response Team, SDG&E, American Red Cross, Heartland Fire & Rescue, and FEMA.


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DRIVER SOUGHT WHO HIT FIRE HYDRANT, CAUSED DAMAGE

 

July 27, 2015 (El Cajon ) – El Cajon Police are looking for the driver of a black Mercedes sedan who fled the scene after striking a fire hydrant near the intersection of Ballantyne Street and Madison Avenue in El Cajon on Monday.  The collision caused a 40-foot-high water geyser that damaged several trees nearby, but did not damage homes.


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HEARTLAND FIRE & RESCUE RESERVE FIREFIGHTER ACADEMY NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

 

July 26, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Heartland Fire & Rescue, serving the Cities of El Cajon, La Mesa and Lemon Grove, is currently accepting applications for the reserve portion of the Heartland Fire Academy through August 7, 2015. Applications will be accepted between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at 100 E. Lexington Avenue in El Cajon.


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FIRE HEAVILY DAMAGES 3 APARTMENT UNITS IN LA MESA

East County News Service

July 4, 2015 (La Mesa) – A two-alarm fire 8420 Buckland Street in La Mesa on Friday morning started in a kitchen and caused $325,000 in damages to three apartment units and the contents, Heartland Fire reports.


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KABOOM! HELP BUILD A PLAYGROUND AT BILL BECK PARK JUNE 18 AND 20

 

Photo: KaBoom! Playground previously built at Wells Park in El Cajon

June 13, 2015 (El Cajon)--Once again, the City of El Cajon plans to build a playground in a day.  Volunteers are needed to help with the assembly of a one-of-a-kind, customized playground at Bill Beck Park on June 18 and June 20.  The existing playground at Bill Beck Park was over 50 years-old.  So, a new playground is planned to provide youths with a better area to play and have fun.  Some of the volunteers who have registered so far include off-duty Heartland Fire & Rescue Firefighters and El Cajon Police officers, along with other City personnel and members of local civic groups.


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FIRE INSURANCE RATES FOR HOMEOWNERS, BUSINESS TO DROP IN HEARTLAND FIRE DISTRICT—THANKS TO DISTRICT ATTAINING “RARE” TOP NATIONAL RATING

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Heartland Fire & Rescue Chief Rick Sitta delivers good news at El Cajon Council meeting

June 9, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – If you live in the cities of El Cajon, La Mesa or Lemon Grove, your fire insurance rates will soon be going down. That’s because Heartland Fire & Rescue, which provides firefighting services for all three cities, has received a class 1 rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO).   

The  ISO rates 47,000 fire departments across the United States and of those, only 98 have attained a class 1 rating, including only 8 fire districts in the entire state of California.  “Class 1 communities are very rare, and some of these scores are the highest we’ve ever seen,” says Stephanie Ruscansky from the ISO, who notes that only a small fraction of 1% of all agencies rated attain a Class 1 rating.


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PLANE HITS TRUCK DURING EMERGENCY LANDING IN SANTEE

 

East County News Service

Photo: Heartland firefighter Gabe Belloli

May 17, 2015 (Santee) – The pilot of a single-engine Cherokee plane made an emergency landing Saturday morning on Prospect Avenue near Cuyamaca Street in Santee.


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HOUSE FIRE DISPLACES EIGHT PEOPLE IN LEMON GROVE

 

May 14, 2015 (Lemon Grove)--At approximately 7:51 p.m., Sunday, May 3, Heartland Fire & Rescue crews in Lemon Grove, responded to reports of a structure fire in the 25-hundred block of Pergl Street. Upon arrival firefighters found heavy smoke coming from a single-story structure at 2523 Pergl Street.


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FORMER EL CAJON POLICE STATION BURNS

 

May 12, 2015 (El Cajon) --  Heartland Fire & Rescue crews in El Cajon responded to reports of a commercial structure fire in the 100 block of Fletcher Parkway in the early morning hours on May 3rd.  Upon arrival firefighters found heavy black smoke coming from a commercial building at the site of the former El Cajon Police station.


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TWO ALARM FIRE AT THRIFT STORE IN EL CAJON

 

May 4, 2015 (El Cajon)--At approximately 9:03 p.m., Friday, May 1, Heartland Fire & Rescue crews in El Cajon responded to reports of a structure fire in the nine-hundred block of Broadway.  Upon arrival firefighters found heavy smoke and flames coming from the windows of “Broadway Thrift” store at 941 Broadway.


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FIRE CHARS MOTORHOME AND VEHICLES IN SANTEE

 

Photo courtesy of Heartland Fire & Rescue

April 8, 2015 (Santee) - A fire that began at a towing yard on Pioneer Way in Santee Monday evening spread to a nearby deli, NBC news reports.  The two-alarm blaze destroyed a motorhome and several other vehicles.


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TWO ALARM FIRE AT VACANT COMMERCIAL BUILDING IN EL CAJON

 

East County Magazine

Photo by Heartland Fire Marshall Chris Jensen

March 21, 2015 (El Cajon) –Heartland Fire & Rescue doused a structure fire in a vacant commercial building at 581 South Marshall Avenue in El Cajon at 1:22 a.m.


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FIREFIGHTERS DOUSE CAR PORT FIRE IN LA MESA

 

East County News Service

March 16, 2015 (La Mesa)--Heartland Fire & Rescue crews from La Mesa, with assistance from San Diego Fire, were dispatched to reports of a car fire in the 7900 block of La Mesa Blvd Saturday night.  The call was quickly upgraded to a residential structure fire after dispatch received multiple cars of a fire.


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FIREFIGHTERS SAVE WHEELCHAIR-BOUND RESIDENT

 

March 9, 2015 (Lemon Grove) – Firefighters helped a wheelchair-bound resident out of home in Lemon Grove after finding the garage in flames Monday morning.


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BRUSH FIRE QUCKLY DOUSED IN EL CAJON

 

Source: Heartland Fire & Rescue

February 14, 2015 (El Cajon)-Heartland Fire & Rescue crews in El Cajon responded to reports of a brush fire in the 1500 block of Orange Avenue in El Cajon Saturday afternoon at 4:41 p.m.   Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke coming from a hillside behind a home at 1522 S. Orange Avenue.


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FIRE DAMAGES CONDO UNIT IN EL CAJON

 

East County News Service

Photo courtesy of Heartland Fire & Rescue

February 14, 2015 (El Cajon ) –, Heartland Fire Dispatch received reports shortly after 8:30 this morning of a structure fire.   Heartland Fire & Rescue crews, returning from an earlier call, saw the smoke and were on scene of the fire in two minutes of the call.  They found the smoke coming from an upstairs bedroom area of a two-story condominium unit at 288 Roanoke Road in El Cajon.


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A HEART-WARMING RESPONSE FOR FIREFIGHTER AWAITING HEART TRANSPLANT

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, right: Adam Beardsley and his wife, Megan

Update February 19, 2015 -- Adam Beardsley received a new heart two days ago and is doing very well, a Heartland Fire official announced at last night's La Mesa Chamber of Commerce Salute to Heroes event.

Update February 15, 2015--Rust Accounting has sent us a final tally for the event, which raised over $18,000 from an estimated 1,000 guests who attended.

February 11, 2015 (La Mesa) –Hundreds of community members turned out Sunday at the Bolt Brewery in La Mesa at a fundraiser to help cover expenses for Adam Beardsley, a 33-year-old Heartland Deputy Fire Marshal in need of a heart transplant. 

“He has such as big heart,” Monica Zech, public information officer for the City of El Cajon, said of Beardsley. She added that he remains in good spirits at UCLA Ronald Reagan Hospital, where he has been a patient since January 6th, awaiting a heart donor.  “But he didn’t want this to be just about him,” she said, adding that Beardsley hopes publicity on the shortage of organ donors will ultimately help others, too.

A single organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people. Currently over 110,000 people in the U.S. are on the waiting list for an organ transplant. Nearly 1,600 people are on the waiting list for a organ transplant in San Diego and Imperial Counties. For information about organ donation, click here.


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HEART TRANSPLANT NEEDED: BENEFIT FOR LA MESA DEPUTY FIRE MARSHAL

Bolt Brewery to hold fundraiser Sun. 2/8 at 1:00 p.m.

By Kristin Kjaero

February 7, 2014 (La Mesa) – 33-year old Heartland Deputy Fire Marshal Adam Beardsley needs a heart transplant, and his colleagues at Heartland are holding a fundraiser February 8 to help with the unexpected expenses. Proceeds from an opportunity drawing with prizes and t-shirts sales will go to help the family, and Bolt Brewery has agreed to donate back 50%. Donations can be made on-line here.

Since January 6 Beardsley has been living at UCLA Ronald Reagan Hospital. His wife, Megan Beardsley, commutes from her job at SDSU to visit him on weekends, taking on double expenses to rent an apartment close to the hospital. Beardley’s wife, sister, and parents all drive to Los Angeles on different days, so that one of them is with him at all times while waiting for a life-saving call when a donor heart may be found.


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FIRE DISPLACES NINE IN EL CAJON

 

February 5, 2015 (El Cajon ) -- Heartland Fire & Rescue crews from El Cajon were at 5:17 a.m. Wednesday following reports of a residential structure fire in the 1000 block of East Madison Avenue in El Cajon.   Fire crews arrived within five minutes to discover heavy fire and smoke coming from three sides of a single story duplex. Firefighters contained the fire within 10 minutes, and stopped the fire from spreading to nearby units. There were injuries reported.


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RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE FIRE DISPLACES 7

 

Update: A resident has been arrested for arson in this fire.

October 25, 2014 (La Mesa)--At 11:42 p.m. Friday night, Heartland Fire & Rescue crews from La Mesa and Lemon Grove, with assistance from San Diego Fire, were dispatched to reports of a residential structure fire in the 6700 block of Rolando Knolls Dive in La Mesa.  Fire crews arrived within four minutes to discover heavy fire and smoke coming from the garage of a single story, single family residence.


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