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Grass fire on westbound Thruway, East Pembroke fire responding

By Billie Owens

A grass fire is reported by the Thruway Authority at mile marker 398.5 westbound. East Pembroke fire is responding. The Weather Service has a red flag warning in effect due to low humidity and strong winds, which can cause fires to quickly get out of control.

UPDATE 12:16 p.m.: Fire is out. East Pembroke assignment is back in service.

School bus minivan and semi-truck collision shuts down eastbound Route 33

By Billie Owens

A tractor-trailer vs. school bus minivan accident is reported at 2300 Genesee St., Pembroke. One child is onboard the minivan. They are reporting no injuries, but the minivan is underneath the tractor-trailer and the occupants are pinned inside. The East Pembroke fire chief on scene says the tractor-trailer is blocking traffic. The location is between Angling and Read roads. Corfu Fire Police are called for traffic control at Route 33 and Angling Road. Eastbound traffic will be shut down.

UPDATE 7:32 a.m.: A family member, possibly the child's parent, is at the scene.

UPDATE 8:10 a.m.: Fire Police remain on scene but other responders are back in service. The road will be reopened shortly.

UPDATE 8:11 a.m.: The door of the minivan was jammed shut but firefighters got it unstuck quickly once they arrived, and the child was picked up by a family member.

UPDATE 8:30 a.m.: Photos added. The milk truck was backing into a dairy farm. The driver of the van reportedly told deputies he didn't see the truck. One or both drivers may be cited, pending conclusion of the investigation. There were no injuries.

Trailer in flames on West Main Street Road

By Billie Owens

A working trailer fire is reported, flames showing, at 3322 W. Main Street Road. East Pembroke and Town of Batavia fire departments are responding along with Mercy medics. Call came from a passerby. Unsure if the trailer is occupied.

UPDATE 2:40 p.m.: This is in the Batavia Mobile Home Park. The fire has gone to a second alarm. Oakfield, Darien and Alexander are called to respond with mutual aid. Pembroke is asked to stand by in East Pembroke's fire hall.

UPDATE 2:44 p.m.: All available manpower from East Pembroke is requested to the scene.

Accident with injuries reported in East Pembroke

By Howard B. Owens

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported in the area of 2486 Main Road, East Pembroke.

East Pembroke fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 11:53 p.m.: We've heard no updates on this accident. 

Accident with injuries on westbound Thruway, East Pembroke fire responding

By Billie Owens

An accident with injuries is reported on the westbound Thruway near mile marker 394. It may be a rollover. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 9:04 p.m.: The actual mile marker is 393, which puts it in Town of Batavia's district. 

UPDATE 9:06 p.m.: It sounds like a sign-off on the patient and Mercy EMS as well as the fire departments are back in service.

East Pembroke installs fire officers for 2015

By Howard B. Owens

Chief Don Newton, East Pembroke Fire Department, received the Service Award for 2014, and Fire Training Officer James Gayton was named Firefighter of the Year Saturday night during the department's annual installation dinner.

Counting fire calls, accidents and EMS calls, East Pembroke went on 350 calls in 2014, up from the recent average year of about 300 calls.

The 2015 firematic officers as elected by members are: Newton, chief; Stephen Smelski, 1st assistant chief; Williams Torres Jr., 2nd assistant chief; Donald Newton Sr., firematic captain; Jose Santini, firematic lieutenant; Lori Ann Santini, EMS captain; Robert Yungfleisch, EMS lieutenant; Ray Schramm, fire police captain; Chris Bennett, fire police lieutenant; Gayton, training officer; Smelski, safety officer.

Candles were lit after the dinner in a memorial service to honor fallen first responders and members of the military.

Genesee County Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Yaeger administered the oath of office for department and district officers.

Car wreck with injuries in West Main Street Road, Batavia

By Billie Owens

A wreck involving at least two vehicles is reported at 3238 W. Main Street Road in the Town of Batavia. The location is just west of Wortendyke Road. Law enforcement on scene requested two ambulances. East Pembroke fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 6:07 p.m.: One person was taken to UMMC. East Pembroke is back in service.

A pie, not a turkey sparks fire response

By Howard B. Owens

A fire alarm summoned volunteers East Pembroke Fire Department to a home on Slusser Road this morning.

After the alarm went out, a dispatcher said a caller informed him it was only a fire in the oven.

The dispatcher offered that perhaps a turkey caught fire.

When clearing the scene, an East Pembroke chief informed the dispatcher, "it was only a pie," then added, "Happy Turkey day."

"Thank you, and same to you," replied the dispatcher.

Quick volunteer response saves house after garage consumed by flames

By Howard B. Owens

A quick response by the East Pembroke Fire Department helped save a house on Indian Falls Road this afternoon when a fire destroyed a detached garage and heat from the fire was causing the siding of the house to melt.

Chief Don Newton said all of the department's trucks rolled within minutes of the alarm.

When Newton arrived on scene driving one of those engines, the garage was already gone. 

One firefighter described it as "rolling flames."

Newton said crews deployed hand lines and acted quickly to protect the house and knock down the fire.

"It is a great save to the house," Newton said. "These guys are awesome. This is what we train for. These guys do a hell of a job for me. I can't thank them enough for being here during the day. Middle of the day, it's tough to get people out and all the units that responded here from all the different departments, I can't thank enough for them being out here."

The house, at 2023 Indian Falls Road, suffered significant heat damage, but no apparent structural damage.

County records list the property owner as Timothy Franclemont.

"It was a good save on the garage as far as I'm concerned," Newton said. "There were a lot of chemicals in the garage, oils, gases, that were burning fiercely, running out of the doors with water on fire."

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

No injuries were reported.

Assisting East Pembroke were Indian Falls, Oakfield, Pembroke, Darien, Elba and Alabama.

(Initial Post)

Garage fire on Indian Falls Road

By Billie Owens

A fully involved garage fire with exposures to other property is reported at 2023 Indian Falls Road. Indian Falls and East Pembroke fire departments are responding. The call has gone to a second alarm. Oakfield, Pembroke, Darien, Elba and Alabama are also called in and Town of Batavia is asked to stand by in East Pembroke Fire Hall.

UPDATE 1 p.m.: Corfu Fire Police are to shut down Indian Falls Road at Route 77.

UPDATE 1:19 p.m.: Howard at the scene reports flames are no longer showing. The garage is a total loss and the nearby house "has significant heat damage (outside)."

Car crash, minor injuries, at Slusser and Stegman roads

By Billie Owens

A one-car accident, believed to be with minor injuries, is reported at Slusser and Stegman roads. East Pembroke fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 2:30 p.m.: The vehicle hit a guard rail. The location is actually Stegman Road, says dispatch.

Fire reported at Genesee Valley Farms

By Billie Owens

An "incendiary facility" on the grounds of Genesee Valley Farms is on fire, according to a caller to emergency dispatch. The address is 3520 S. Main Street Road, East Pembroke. Everyone is out of the structure. East Pembroke fire is responding along with mutual aid from Town of Batavia, Oakfield, Darien, and Alexander. Pembroke and Indian Falls are to stand by. The location is between Wortendyke Road and Lovers Lane Road.

UPDATE 4:48 p.m.: Howard at the scene reports there is a moderate amount of smoke showing but no flames. The incendiary facility is inside a small out building. Smoke appears to be coming from the eaves.

UPDATE 5:57 p.m.: Fire is knocked down. Some crews are picking up and preparing to leave.

Vehicle rolls over guard rail in East Pembroke

By Howard B. Owens

A car has reportedly rolled over the guard rail in the area of 2456 Main Road, East Pembroke.

No word on injuries.

East Pembroke fire an Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 9:46 a.m.: First responder: Vehicle is down an embankment.

UPDATE 9:50 a.m.: A BLS (basic life support) ambulance is requested, which would indicate minor injuries.

UPDATE 10 a.m.: Two patients extricated.

Big rig rollover on eastbound Thruway, unknown injuries

By Billie Owens

A tractor-trailer rollover accident is reported on the eastbound Thruway at mile marker 397.2 Unknown injuries. East Pembroke fire and Mercy Medic #1 are responding.

UPDATE 3:53 p.m.: The Thruway Authority reports the driver is out of the vehicle and has minor injuries.

Two drivers in East Pembroke ATV crash facing DWI charges

By Howard B. Owens

The two drivers reportedly involved in an ATV crash Sunday night have both been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated.

Charles R. Chatley, 26, of 2392 Kilian Road, Corfu, was also charged with unlawful operation of an ATV on a public highway.

Stephen R. Smelski, 35, of West Main Street, Batavia, is also charged with unlawful operation of an ATV on a public highway and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident.

Witnesses say Smelski was the most seriously injured of the four people involved in the accident and he's the one victim still hospitalized, though he's listed in good condition at ECMC.

An East Pembroke Fire Department 1st assistant chief and Genesee County emergency dispatcher, Smelski was reportedly taken by private vehicle to UMMC following the accident and later transported to ECMC.

The accident was reported at 11:09 p.m. Sunday in the area of 2069 E. Main St., East Pembroke.

Also injured were passengers Kristina Rumble, 26, and Brenda Smelski, 37.

Brenda Smelski was treated and released at ECMC, as was Chatley.  Rumble, who was transported to ECMC by Mercy Flight, was released from the hospital two days ago.

Chatley is a 2nd assistant chief with East Pembroke.

The accident occurred the same date as the annual East Pembroke Mud Races, hosted by the fire department, but the accident was hours after the event ended and at least a mile from the mud pits. 

The accident was investigated by deputies Jason Saile and James Diehl and Sgt. Eric Seppala.

Mowing accident, rider with minor injuries, on Rose near Wortendyke

By Billie Owens

A town tractor that was mowing rolled over into a ditch on Rose Road near Wortendyke Road. The rider has minor injuries. The tractor was, or is, smoking. East Pembroke and Town of Batavia fire departments are responding along with Mercy medics.

UPDATE 1:24 p.m.: A responder reports the tractor is no longer smoking and the rider is up and walking around.

UPDATE 1:26 p.m.: Mutual aid from Town of Batavia is cancelled.

UPDATE 1:46 p.m.: The East Pembroke assignment is back in service. The rider was transported to UMMC.

UPDATE 2:16 p.m.: Law enforcement at the scene reports the tractor has been removed from the roadway.

Photos: East Pembroke Mud Races 2014

By Howard B. Owens

Sunday, the East Pembroke Fire Department, hosted its annual mud races in the pit area behind the fire hall.

Don't think years from now, "oh, I wish I had a copy of that photo." To purchase prints, click here.

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