Indiana County firefighters have had to battle three brush fires this weekend, including one that broke out early Sunday that proved particularly troublesome.
At 1:18 AM, Brush Valley and Vintondale firefighters were dispatched to a fire along Michaels Road in Buffington Township. Homer City and Cherryhill Township were summoned soon after, and a half-hour after the original call, Armagh/East Wheatfield was sent to the fire, along with Citizens Rehab. Clyde firefighters were added to the call shortly after 2 AM, and the Clymer and Black Lick fire companies were placed on standby.
On Saturday afternoon, the Pine Township and Cherryhill Township fire companies were dispatched for a brush fire along Deer Lane in Pine Township, and Glen Campbell, Cherryhill Township, Cherry Tree, and Rossiter firefighters were sent to a fire along Bennette Road in Montgomery Township.
Clymer firefighters were dispatched Saturday afternoon for a physical rescue in the 1800 block of Route 403. A man in a wheelchair had gone over an embankment. Commodore was summoned as well for additional manpower. Clymer reports that the victim was eight to ten feet down the steep embankment and was clinging to a tree. Rescuers climbed down the embankment and stabilized the man, lowering ropes and rigging with a Stokes basket and using ground ladders as support due to the high angle. Firefighters completed the rescue within 17 minutes.
Other emergency calls this weekend include utility lines down along Ash Street in Center Township shortly before 6 PM Saturday. Coral-Graceton firefighters responded. Indiana firefighters, Borough Police, IUP Police, and Citizens Ambulance were dispatched for a vehicle accident at 6:30 PM on Oakland Avenue.
