east pembroke

A house fire is reported at 2463 Brown Road. East Pembroke Fire Department is responding along with mutual aid from Corfu, Pembroke, Alexander, Darien, and the City's Fast Team. Town of Batavia is requested to fill in at East Pembroke. The location is between Ridge and Halstead roads.

UPDATE 2:27 p.m.: East Pembroke -- all available manpower to the scene.

UPDATE 2:28 p.m.: East Pembroke command calls Town of Batavia to a dry hydrant on Wilkinson Road. Oakfield is asked to fill in at East Pembroke's hall.

UPDATE 2:32: The city's first platoon is called to headquarters.

UPDATE 2:35 p.m.: Command says an occupant is out of the house.

UPDATE 3 p.m.: Tankers from Bethany, Alabama and Oakfield are requested to the scene. National Grid was advised that wires are down. The high winds are making this fire difficult to fight.

UPDATE 3:07 p.m.: A crew from Elba is requested to stand by in its quarters in case needed for the Oakfield Fire District.

UPDATE 3:23 p.m.: Without specifying why they are needed, Mercy medics are called to the scene.

A three-car accident with injuries is reported at Slusser and Pratt roads, East Pembroke. Law enforcement is on scene and says extrication will be needed. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 9:48 a.m.: There were only two cars involved; the third vehicle was driven by a witness who stopped to block off the accident scene. The drivers involved in the accident had minor injuries and both were transported to a hospital; neither had passengers.

A photo submitted by Emily Muench yesterday of a Fall scene in East Pembroke.

A house in the 2500 block of Main Road, East Pembroke, was searched this afternoon after authorities claimed they suspected it could be the site of a meth lab. A subsequent search failed to uncover a meth lab, although the investigation is continuing.

A routine check on a parolee resulted in a conversation wherein a parole officer suspected there could be a meth lab on the property. State police responded and requested the assistance of the East Pembroke Fire Department. An investigation was conducted but no evidence of meth production has been uncovered at this point.

A car crashed into a tree and the driver is "not completely alert" at Wilkinson and Lear roads. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 12:49 a.m.: Corfu Fire Department is called to assist East Pembroke. The driver is trapped inside the vehicle.

UPDATE 1:04 a.m.: Mercy Flight is hovering over the crash site, seeking an appropriate place to land. They are checking a field on Lear Road just south of the scene.

UPDATE 1:06 p.m.: Sheriff's deputies are on scene.

UPDATE 1:30 a.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne and headed to ECMC.

UPDATE 1:39 a.m.: The female driver left the roadway for an unknown reason and hit a tree. She was extricated and taken ECMC via Mercy Flight primarily for precautionary reasons, said Sgt. Eric K. Seppala. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

UPDATE 8 a.m.: The driver is identified as Jennifer D. Bisig, 38, of Hopkins Road, Batavia. She is listed in serious condition at ECMC. Investigators have yet to determine why her 2002 Saturn Vue left the roadway. The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending.

Public Notice:

Please take notice that the Public Hearing that was scheduled to be conducted by the East Pembroke Fire District and to be held at the St. Maximillian Kolbe Hall, located at 8656 Church Street, East Pembroke, NY 14056 on Wednesday September 16, 2015, is cancelled until further notice.

A dump truck fire is reported in the area of 3189 Route 5, between Hopkins Road and Batavia Mobile Home Park, East Pembroke.

East Pembroke fire is responding.

UPDATE 9 p.m.: Town of Batavia is requested for traffic control to shut down westbound traffic at Wortendyke Road.

UPDATE 9:03 p.m.: Fire is out.

UPDATE 9:04 p.m.: Town of Batavia can go back in service.

UPDATE 9:51 p.m.: East Pembroke back in service. Truck has been moved.

A two-vehicle accident with unknown injuries is reported on the westbound Thruway at mile marker 398.9. East Pembroke and Mercy medics are responding. The caller reports a car struck a semi-truck then went off the road.

UPDATE 1:36 p.m.: Responders were unable to locate a vehicle or driver involved in an accident. The assignment is back in service.

The East Pembroke Fire Department will host a Gun Raffle to raise money for the volunteer company from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10. Doors open at 5 o'clock. Only 750 raffle tickets will be sold; donation per ticket is $20.

One ticket admission, and that ticket will be reentered for the #10 Drawing (Winchester Model 70-270).

Food and refreshments are included in the price of the ticket.

Guns purchased from Hunter's Landing. All guns will be picked up at the store location. You must pass a background check.

Sponsored by Fixy's Rebel Liners, The Detail Shop, and Ron & Newt's Sales & Service.

The Main ticket includes:

• Ruger
• Savage Axis 2 22-250
• Pse Fang
• ATI Cavalery 410 over-under
• Ruger Take Down 22
• Henry 22 mag pump
• ATI Cavalery 20 over-under
• Browning Abolt 7 mag
• Winchester Model 70-270

Random order side raffles include:

• Set of Game Cameras
• Cooler of Meat
• Lottery Tickets (Worth $200)
• Keystone Youth 22
• Ruger 10/22
• 50/50
• Barrel of Booze

For tickets call:

• Kenny Marble at (585) 356-1282
• Donald Newton (585) 813-4033
• James Gayton (585) 409-8802

For 2015, there will be no Mud King, no Mud Queen, no racing champion, no big muddy, soggy mess in East Pembroke.

The volunteer fire department has decided to forego the event for at least one year, Chief Don Newton said, because the small department always struggles to have enough volunteers working on race day.

"It's very hard work, difficult work, with not very many people for not a lot of money," Newton said.

This October, the department will hold a gun raffle in its recently refurbished pavilion behind the fire hall.

There are 32 active volunteers in the department and not all of them can help on race day. The event needs race officials, mud groomers, ticket takers, concession stand workers along with several other behind-the-scenes roles to fill, Newton said.  

"We put this on for the community and community members want to come and enjoy the event," Newton said. "It's hard to ask them to work when they just want to enjoy the show."

The department isn't ruling out bringing the mud races back for 2016. Newton said there's hope of getting the event reorganized and going again, especially with so many people expressing disappointment that it's been canceled this year.

Photo: File photo. A photo from the 2011 mud races.

A tractor-trailer's load of cargo became detached from the cab and is blocking the roadway and leaking hydraulic fluid at the Cargill plant, located at 8849 Wortendyke Road, Batavia. East Pembroke Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 2:05 p.m.: A heavy wrecker is being called in to remove the vehicle.

UPDATE: There were no citations issued. The trailer came loose as a result of a mechanical failure, according to what we were told at the scene. A State Police commercial truck enforcement officer inspected and found no violations.

The East Pembroke Fire District plans to proceed with the construction of a new fire hall at a different location. 

After residents voted to approve to build a new fire hall last year, the project was delayed by Fire District officials to consider a more suitable location.

According to Robert Yungfleisch, chairman of the East Pembroke Fire District, the property that was originally part of the project had wetland issues and would have been expensive to build on. After a property owner offered to donate a parcel earlier this year, the Fire District decided to wait on the project.

The Fire Commission met last week to discuss moving forward with the project as soon as they take ownership of the property.

The donated parcel is located on Barrett Drive near property already owned by the Fire District. The parcel is approximately six to eight acres. 

Due to the change of address, residents must vote on the project again. The environmental studies and site assessments must be redone as well.

Yungfleisch stated taxes will not go up for 20 years. The tax increase that was implemented last year figures in the mortgage on the new building, new equipment, maintenance and other expenses.

The cost of the project cannot exceed $3 million. The Fire District is in the process of making adjustments to cut down the original estimated cost of $3,170,000. Although the cost of materials and labor has increased since last year, Yungfleisch thinks the district can work within the budget.

"With the new property, we are looking at different options for labor and materials so it shouldn't be a problem knocking off $170,000," Yungfleisch said.

The project can receive up to $500,000 through a New York State Emergency Services Revolving Loan. The rest of the project will be funded through U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Loan. Property owners will pay for the loan over 30 years.

The Fire District has been dealing with structural problems with its current building ever since a car struck the fire hall in 2012. A new fire hall is needed to handle the weight of the fire trucks and provide extra storage for equipment. 

"The new fire hall will serve our community for 100 years," Yungfleisch said.

The Fire Commission will meet again to discuss project expenses before they hold a public hearing in September. The vote is tentatively set to take place in October. If the vote is approved, Yungfleisch, hopes to start building the new fire hall next spring.

A big accident is reported on the eastbound Thruway at mile marker 397. Unknown injuries. It involves two tractor-trailers and at least two other vehicles. East Pembroke Fire Department is responding along with Mercy Medics.

UPDATE 4:03 p.m.: Town of Batavia Fire Department requested to the scene. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire department asked to shut down eastbound I-90 at Pembroke exit.

UPDATE 4:05 p.m.: A third ambulance, this one from Darien, is called in.

UPDATE 4:29 p.m.: Howard at the scene reports seeing no tractors-trailers; rather, there's an SUV or RV towing a trailer, a pickup truck, and another passenger vehicle involved in the crash.

UPDATE 4:49 p.m.: A responder on scene reports traffic in the opposite direction -- westbound -- is backed up for at least eight miles.

UPDATE 5:19 p.m.: Town of Batavia is back in service. 

UPDATE 5:17 p.m.: Pembroke and Indian Falls traffic control detail is back in service.

UPDATE 5:23 p.m.: A reader reports both lanes are now open.

Reader submitted photos.

A large rubbish fire which got out of control is reported by law enforcement on scene at Galloway Road, just west of Macomber Road. East Pembroke Fire Department is responding along with mutual aid from Alabama, Oakfield and the Town of Batavia.

UPDATE 3:06 p.m.: Elba, Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding in non-emergency mode.

A motor-vehicle accident with entrapment is reported on Lovers Lane Road near Route 33. East Pembroke and Darien fire departments are responding.

UPDATE 6:45 p.m.: Mercy Flight is called to the scene and a landing zone is being established. Due to multiple incidents in progress, a second platoon from the City of Batavia is requested to headquarters.

UPDATE 6:48 p.m.: Town of Batavia Fire Department is called to the scene.

UPDATE 7:19 p.m.: Mercy Flight #7 is on the ground.

UPDATE: The blue sedan was southbound on Lovers Lane Road and came over the crest of a hill and an apparently high speed and the driver lost control of the vehicle. It crossed over the center line into the northbound lane of traffic where it struck a Ford pickup truck. The driver is believed to be approximately 18 years old. The driver and minor teen passenger were both transported by Mercy Flight, with the minor going to Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo and the driver being taken to ECMC. The pickup driver was taken by private vehicle to UMMC. Charges are pending. Alcohol is not considered a factor, said Deputy James Diehl, but distracted driving has not been ruled out.

UPDATE: The driver of the sedan is identified as Brandon Faucett, 17, of Rose Road, Batavia. His passenger was Bailey Faucett, 13. Charges are pending. The driver of the truck was Gloria A. Schafer, 52, of Pearl Street, Batavia.

I stopped in the office of Ed Arnold Scrap Processors this afternoon to drop something off and found I'd arrived just in time to see Daniel Orr, of East Pembroke, pick up his new Vizio 48-inch smart TV, which he won in a drawing held Saturday.

It was pretty easy, Orr said, "all I had to do was fill out a piece of paper."

Pictured: Brent Arnold, Ed Arnold Sr., Orr, and Ed Arnold Jr.

A tractor-trailer rollover accident is reported on the eastbound Thruway at mile marker 397.2. The driver is out of the vehicle. It's possible another vehicle was struck as a result of the rollover, but that information is not confirmed. East Pembroke fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 7:03 p.m.: Dispatcher says "Other vehicles involved." Mutual aid is requested from Darien ambulance and an engine from Indian Falls.

UPDATE (By Howard): Photos submitted by Stephen Smelski, 1st asst. chief, East Pembroke Fire Department. Smelski said it's unknown at this time why the truck crossed over from the westbound lane and struck the concrete bridge barrier. The truck was carrying 10,000 pounds of vegetables. A passenger vehicle was struck with three adults and a child. All five people were "sign-offs," meaning no injuries requiring transport to a hospital. It will be some time before the vehicle is uprighted. Traffic is reduced to one lane in the meantime.

A two-car accident, unknown injuries, is reported at the intersection of Hartshorn Road and Route 33. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

A fire with multiple explosions, "multiple vehicles, possibly tankers involved," is reported at Kistner Concrete Products, Inc., 8713 Read Road, Town of Pembroke. East Pembroke fire chief responding told dispatch "I can't get close enough -- multiple explosions." East Pembroke Fire Department is responding along with mutual aid from Oakfield, Darien, Alexander and Town of Batavia.

UPDATE 12:08 a.m.: Pembroke Fire Department is asked to stand by in East Pembroke's fire hall.

UPDATE 12:09 a.m.: Mercy medic #2 is requested to the scene on Read Road.

UPDATE 12:18 a.m.: A dispatcher tells command: "My partner spoke with the owner and he explained what was happening. He's been updated about the situation."

UPDATE 12:22 a.m.: Howard at the scene says the fire is out. A semi-truck was completely destroyed and a flatbed truck adjacent to it was heavily damaged.

UPDATE 12:29 a.m.: East Pembroke Fire Chief Don Newton told Howard: "I don't know what blew up. We were sitting at the fire hall when we heard the explosion. I've heard tires explode and they never sounded that loud."

UPDATE 1:55 a.m.: Photos and more information from Chief Don Newton.

Newton said he and two other members of the department were burning the midnight oil at the Fire Hall working on reports when they heard a series of booms.

"It sounded like thunder," Newton said. "Well, actually, it sounded like more than thunder, so we walked outside then I heard about 10 more explosions and I said there's more than just thunder going on."

Newton and the other firefighters got into his personal vehicle and went out to scout the area. A short drive down Route 5 and they spotted the orange glow in the sky at Kistner Concrete. They swung down Bennett Road, but couldn't get into the yard because of the locked gates and barriers. Newton said he could see a truck was on fire and it looked as though the fire could have spread to other vehicles. He was worried whether there might be a structure nearby.

"I couldn't tell if there was a building around it or not because the smoke was thick and it was black and it was dark," Newton said. "You couldn't see anything except for the orange glow."

Newton radioed dispatch and immediately requested a second alarm. He took the firefighters with him back to the Fire Hall and they rolled two engines.

The gate off Read Road was locked, so Newton used one of the trucks to pull it down so they could get access to the fire.

Soon, other volunteers arrived on scene and the East Pembroke crew with the aid of Oakfield, Town of Batavia, Darien and Alexander, was able to quickly get the fire knocked down (Pembroke and Indian Falls provided fill-in at East Pembroke's hall).

The quick response likely saved another truck that was sitting next to the one that caught fire as well as a piece of machinery on the neighboring flatbed trailer.

The cause of the fire is still undetermined, but was possibly electrical.

The truck's saddle tanks were brimming with fuel, ready for the next day's work, but a lot of things could have exploded, not just those tanks.

"The explosions could have been everything from tires to the fuel tanks to the air chambers," Newton said. "There's a lot of pressurized units on these trucks. This truck was last used on Friday, so it's very possible everything could still have been pressurized on it."

People reported hearing the explosions as far away as Wortendyke Road and the Village of Corfu.