Fire & EMS Calls

At 2:56 PM on Wednesday, Town of Olean Fire Dept. has been dispatched to the Barnum Road for a tree down on lines.

At 1:45 PM on Wednesday, Port Allegany ambulance has been called to the Little Red Diner on Main Street for a possible stroke.

Air Medical requested to LZ at Ardaugh Glass Plant. Fire Dept. has been dispatched..

At 1:15 PM on Wednesday, Mansfield Ambulance has been dispatched to North Williamson Road for a victim of a motor vehicle accident.

At 1:12 PM on Wednesday, Shinglehouse Ambulance has been called to North Union Street for a woman ill.

At 12:10 PM on Wednesday, Port Allegany ambulance has been called to North Brooklynside Road for chest pain.

At 11:44 AM on Wednesday, Hilltop Fire Dept. & Priority Care Ambulance dispatched to a 2 vehicle crash on Rt. 646 in front of the Cyclone Post Office.

At 10:44 AM on Wednesday, Shinglehouse Ambulance has been called to North Union Street for a fall victim.

At 10:14 AM on Wednesday, Coudersport ambulance has been called to Rt. 44 North for difficulty breathing.

At 6:05 PM on Tuesday, Lawrenceville Fire Dept. dispatched to Lawrenceville Exxon at 13305 Rt. 49 for a tractor trailer fire.

At 5:57 PM on Tuesday, Port Allegany Fire Dept. has been dispatched to 6565 Rt. 155 South for a wildfire.

Roulette & Austin FD with UTVs dispatched to assist.

Elkland Search and Rescue

  Elkland Search and Rescue was alerted at 8:12pm Saturday evening for a missing hunter in the village of Grant in Elk County by the Pa State Police, Ridgway Barracks. The hunter was an 88 year old, who was dropped off around 10 am Saturday morning to turkey hunt their way back to camp. Pa State Police were notified by the hunting companions of an overdue hunter and an investigation was begun. While Elkland Sar was in route, Elk Co. 5 Jay Township F.D. was requested for assistance. A command post was set up in the Village of Grant and a unified command was established between PSP, Elk Co. 5 and Elkland SAR, around 9:15pm. PSP Ridgway also requested Pine Creek K9 Team out of Brookville, Pa.

After a brief interview with the hunting party, a plan was initiated to get teams of searchers to the point last seen (LKP). This is where the topography of this situation gets interesting! By the way “the crow flies”, the individual was dropped off about 1.8 miles from his camp. To drive to that location, it was an 18 mile one way trip via vehicle or UTV. Natural barriers included a river, and 1000 feet of elevation change in the area. The area was logged within the last few years and a recent blowdown hit the area.

Search teams were taken to the LKP, by the hunting party and the search began around 10:15pm. Once search teams arrived on scene of the LKP, teams branched out beginning their assignments to locate the missing hunter. ATV and UTV teams branched out to search and map the trails and check track traps in the area. Mantrackers worked to locate his tracks from the area where he was dropped off and hasty teams were assigned to most probable routes the individual may have taken to get out of the area. K9 teams were also sent to try to locate a scent trail from the LKP and others were sent to search areas of interest.

By 1am, searchers were reporting hazardous conditions almost everywhere they went. Hasty teams were reporting that due to steep conditions with fresh leaf drops, downed trees and loose rocky conditions the side hills were too dangerous to transverse without daylight. A K9 team was reporting a run in with a rattlesnake (not bitten) and a porcupine was located by another K9 team. (Yes, on warm days and nights, even in November, you need to be cautious of your surroundings. )ATV and UTV teams were reporting trails blocked from the blowdown and too dangerous to open up at night. The PSP helicopter also had to return due to windy conditions. With the fresh information of the dangerous conditions, all teams were recalled and requested to be at the Command Post by 3am for refreshments, snacks and to rest until daylight. The K9 team that had the porcupine encounter was also attended to by the handler and teammates. During the debriefing of teams from the field, the decision was made to relocate the Command Post to an area on top of the Quehanna Mountain off of the Quehanna Highway in the morning.

By 6am, the Command Post was buzzing with activity. The microwave was cooking breakfast, the radios were chattering with dispatchers, equipment was being refueled while other equipment was being stored away to be transported to the new Command Post. The communication that is going on behind the scenes during a situation that was growing of this size is unbelievable. Dispatchers from both Elk County Control and the Pa State Police Communication Officers are constantly on the phone and radio ordering additional resources and checking on the availability of resources if needed. Requests were sent out to have the Pa Game Commission and Pa DCNR to meet at the new Command Post by 8am.

By 8am, searchers were back in the field searching for the hunter. Additional helicopter support was requested to assist with the search. Med Stat assisted with flyover and visual support from the air and the Pa State Police were working to get back into the air for support. At that time, drone teams with Flir were requested to the scene to assist with the search. AerialJimPA of Indiana PA responded and also with the help of Fox Township F.D. Chief 3 , Scott Surra, Allegheny Technical Rescue Team responded out of New York State with their Drone Team and Command Trailer. Elk County Emergency Management Director, Mike McAllister has now arrived on scene and is offering and assisting with resources to assist with the search. During this time, Elk Co. 5 is handling transportation arrangements, as teams are starting to clear their areas and need transported back to the Command Post. Interestingly enough, this is about a 13 mile drive for the transport vehicle to the pickup location, again one way.

The time is now around 11am, and everyone is busy doing his or her job to locate the hunter. The Command Post radios are constantly talking; additional staff from the Pa Game Commission and Pa DCNR are coming in and being briefed with search tasks. Field teams are working at their tasks searching for the hunter. The Command Staff is working to transition to a new staff of Pa Game Commission Officers, Pa DCNR Officers and Pa State Police, as the current staff is preparing to step back. A clue comes in and confirmation is made the correct area is being searched for the missing hunter. Mantrackers from Elkland SAR are working that scene with additional Game Commission Trackers and their K9 team in route to assist at that clue location. Once together, the trackers are working a track in an eastern direction. The K9 team who was working the area east of the clue location were clearing the draining stream down to the river. With the fresh clue, trackers working on track moving east, air support overhead, a K9 team east of the trackers, the situation seemed to receive a breath of fresh air at the Command Post. The Salvation Army has now arrived on scene and accessing what they can do to support the search situation.

Then it happened, the crackle came over the radio, someone seeming miles away, (they were 6 miles away, deep in a drainage)saying this is K9 team 2, “Missing Hiker has been found and is OK.” To say there was a relief at the Command Post is an understatement. The individual is then evaluated by searchers and it was determined they were able to walk out on their own, to be evaluated by a waiting paramedic from the Command Post and Bennett’s Valley Ambulance personnel, once access to the individual can be made. The individual was released to his hunting companions without needing transported to the hospital.

How many agencies were involved with a situation like this, you might be asking? Well here is a list composed by Chief 5, Brandon Kowalski, of the agencies: Pa State Police Ridgway, Pa State Police Punxsutawney, Pa PSP Air Support, Elk County Emergency Services, Elk Co. 5 Jay Township F.D., Pa Game Commission, Pa DCNR, Saint Marys P.D. K9 Unit, Pine Creek K9 Search Unit, Med Stat Air Medical Helicopter Service, Allegheny Technical Rescue Team (Drone from NY State), AerialJimPA(Drone from Indiana Pa), Salvation Army, Bennett’s Valley Ambulance Service and Elkland Search and Rescue. If I forgot to list an organization or person, I apologize! Elkland responded with 16 members and all equipment.

The pictures are from the search. I think these pictures reveal some of the beautiful country searchers can experience on a search call. You can also see what the searchers had to deal with to overcome the situation. Special shout out to Tam from Pine Creek K9 for permission to use her pictures!

We need to also recognize the individuals of Elk County that support Elkland Search and Rescue! Without the continued financial support from Our Community, there is No Way we could to able to provide the service we do! To that, We Humbly say THANK YOU!

Respectfully Submitted by:

John Feldbauer

Chief of Elkland Search and Rescue

Elk County Office of Emergency Services

Jay Township Volunteer Fire Company

STAT MedEvac

Pine Creek K-9 Search Unit

At 2:20 PM on Tuesday, Port Allegany ambulance has been called to North Main Street for chest pain.

At 9:31 AM on Tuesday, Shinglehouse Ambulance has been dispatched to the high school for a head injury.

Fire Dept. dispatched to set up LZ for Mercyflight 8.

Wilcox Volunteer Fire Department

Monday November 7th, 2022

Dispatch time 11:31 hours

Elk company 6 was dispatched to an area off of Mealy Run Road on the Shawmut Grade for a vehicle fire that was endangering the woods. Elk County control reported that the vehicle was located approximately 500 ft off of the roadway on a pipeline.

The location of the incident was approximately 22 miles from the station and took some time getting there due to unpaved roadways. Assistant 6 arrived on scene and met up with the caller and shortly after engine 63 utility 614 and chief six all arrived on scene. Smoke was visible from the roadway and we noted that a small brush fire had started. At the original staging area access was limited but we were able to see the vehicle and it was fully involved and an approximate 2 acre brush fire was starting and spreading. Chief 6 requested elk company 2 to respond to the scene with the utility truck and manpower. PSP was also requested to the scene at this time due to the vehicle being in motion at the time of the fire starting. We had to move our staging area to a different access point approximately 3 to 4 MI from the original staging area. Utility 614 Chief and Assistant made their way into the scene and at that point requested more resources. DCNR, elk company 1, elk company 4 and Elkland Search and Rescue we’re all requested to the scene with available utvs and manpower. KANE FIRE DEPT 5 was dispatched for an engine for standby at Wilcox station. Personnel worked for some time and the fire was deemed under control at 1356 hours. Mop up was started at this time and done for approximately one more hour and the scene was then turned over to the dcnr personnel on scene.

The Wilcox Volunteer Fire Department would like to thank all of the responding agencies for their assistance.

Thank you also goes out to EMS Specialist Jeff Reeser from EMS West for his response to the scene to provide medical coverage for the responders. A big thank you also goes out to Christine Cummings from Old Brickyard/Subway for the food and refreshments. As always great work by the dispatchers at Elk County Office of Emergency Services for getting us the resources needed.

If I missed anybody in all of my thank yous I apologize as it was not done on purpose we had multiple agencies on scene and I did my best to keep track of everybody.

Units on scene

Wilcox Volunteer Fire Department

Crystal Fire Department

Johnsonburg Fire Department

Ridgway Fire Department

Elkland Search and Rescue

EMS West

Pennsylvania State Police -Ridgway Barracks

DCNR

Kane Fire Department – standby engine in Wilcox

Respectfully submitted

Captain 611

Thor Lehman

Star Hose Company, Port Allegany, PA

After several weeks of training, members of The Star Hose Company placed our new engine in service today, replacing “Engine 33,” a 1988 Pierce Arrow. Engine 33 served faithfully for over 34 years, responding to countless fires throughout the region, and was the last open cab fire apparatus in service across a wide area. Fittingly, the last run for Engine 33 was for a house fire earlier this week. We will miss our old engine and her distinctive sound, but we look forward to years of service from the new Engine 3.

At 4:52 PM on Monday, St. Marys Fire Dept. dispatched to 163 Madison Street for a house fire. A battery exploded causing a structure fire. Ventilation is taking place. Fire is out.

At 4:19 PM on Monday, Mansfield & Blossburg Fire Depts. have been dispatched to the Bryant Road in Sullivan Township for a wildfire.

At 4:12 PM on Monday, Fire & EMS has been dispatched to a 2 vehicle crash near 11950 Bennetts Valley Highway. One female is reported injured.

At 3:39 PM on Monday, Shinglehouse Fire Dept. has been dispatched to a wildfire at 494 Rt. 244 East in Oswayo.

Coudersport & Roulette also dispatched to assist. Genesee dispatched.

At 2:02 PM on Monday, Lawrenceville, Tioga dispatched to 70 Junction Crossroad for a house fire with an explosion. One person is reported to have burns to the legs. Everyone is out of the house. Responders report a small fire. Millerton, Lindley & Gang Mills were dispatched but now told to hold in quarters. Fire has been contained with fire extinguishers.

2:15 PM–Full Response SECOND ALARM previously dispatched stations plus, Elkland, MIddlebury, Nelson, Mansfield, Morris & Blossburg. Fire has progressed.

At 12:32 PM on Monday, Ulysses Fire Dept. dispatched to 540 Jackson Road for wires down across roadway.

At 12:20 PM on Monday, Wilcox Fire Dept. has been dispatched to a truck fire with a 2 acre brush fire. Kane dispatched for standby at Wilcox station. Johnsonburg also dispatched.

St. Marys, Ridgway & Elkland SAR now dispatched to assist with this fire.

At 4:00 PM on Sunday, Roulette Ambulance has been called to Main Street for a woman fallen.

Elkland Search & Rescue is on scene of a search in Benezette Township in Elk County. Unknown details.

At 12:35 PM on Sunday, The missing man has been located and is being transported to Rt. 555 & Grant Road for EMS to check him out.

At 5:24 PM on Saturday, Emporium & Austin Fire Depts. have been dispatched to the area of 929 Deer Road for a wildfire estimated to be an acre and a half in size.

At 5:07 PM on Saturday, Eldred Fire & EMS dispatched to 1118 McCrea Brook to assemble for a land rescue of a 47 year old male victim of a 4 wheeler rollover accident. Victim is in the woods behind that address. Air medical requested. Landing zone at Andrews Auto Sales.

At 4:45 PM on Saturday, Fox Township Fire & EMS has been dispatched to Rt. 153 & Powers Drive for a multi-vehicle crash with at least one reported injury.