east pembroke

A possible structure fire is reported at 8979 Wilkinson Road, East Pembroke. The house is said to be filled with smoke although no flames are visible. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding, along with an engine from Town of Batavia, as mutual aid.

UPDATE 3:28 p.m.: All available manpower from East Pembroke Fire Department is called to respond to the confirmed, working structure fire. Also called to the scene are Darien, Oakfield and Alexander fire departments. Pembroke is asked to fill in at East Pembroke's fire hall.

UPDATE 3:39 p.m.: Elba Fire Department is asked to fill in at Town of Batavia Fire Station #1.

UPDATE 3:56 p.m.: Fire is out.

A two-car crash, with unknown injuries, is reported in the area of 2514 Main Road, East Pembroke. It is near Church Street and is blocking traffic. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

A one-car accident with injuries is reported at 1428 Main Road in Corfu. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 1:14 p.m.: Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are requested to the scene for mutual aid to East Pembroke.

Press release:

Lori Ann Santini from East Pembroke lost her entire house and all the contents in a fire on Wednesday, Oct. 28th. Lori Ann was not at home, and her three children were all at school when the fire started.

Lori Ann has been an East Pembroke firefighter for 15+ years and is also a member of the County Emergency Support Unit (ESU, Haz-Mat and Rope Rescue team). Her ex-husband Jose, also an East Pembroke firefighter for 15+ years, responded to the call and initiated a rescue of the dogs still in the house. Near the conclusion of the call, Jose was transported by ambulance with an undisclosed medical complaint. He was later transferred to Rochester and underwent cardiac surgery.

Lori Ann is a paramedic with Le Roy Ambulance Service. Jose is a dispatcher for Mercy Flight/Mercy EMS.

There will be a Spaghetti Dinner and Chinese Auction to benefit the Santini Family from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28, (basket drawings at 6:30) at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church Hall, 8656 Church Street, E. Pembroke. Cost is $10. For tickets, call Don Newton at 585-813-4033 or Pam McCarthy at 716-560-1659.

Any donations are accepted and appreciated. They may be dropped off at Ron & Newt’s on Main Road in East Pembroke from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday, or at the East Pembroke Fire Dept. on Monday nights from 6 to 9 p.m., or call Don or Pam to have a donation picked up.

A GoFundMe account has been set up with an initial goal of raising $3,000 to assist Lori Ann Santini and her three children after they lost their home on Brown Road, Corfu, to fire yesterday.

So far, $2,300 has been raised.

The house and all its contents were destroyed in the wind-swept fire.

Santini is a volunteer with the East Pembroke department as well as a medic with Mercy EMS and Le Roy Ambulance.  

To donate, click here.

Chief Don Newton said the brothers and sisters of the East Pembroke Volunteer Fire Department will take care of one of their own who lost her home to a fast-moving, wind-driven fire today. 

It was a tough thing to watch the home of a volunteer burn in conditions that made saving even a portion of the structure impossible. The house, at 2463 Brown Road, Corfu, sits in the middle of an agricultural area, so the high winds were complicated by a lack of a nearby fire hydrant. Water tankers and porta-ponds were needed to supply the pumpers and a consistent water flow was hard to maintain.

Newton and Tim Yaeger, emergency management coordinator, both said the fire was well advanced, the flames driven by the winds, by the time the first firefighters arrived.

"The fire would not have been advanced as it was if it was not as windy as it was today," Yaeger said. "We probably could have made an interior attack, but with this, right off the bat, the incident commander, the fire chief of East Pembroke, got on location and called an exterior attack only just because of the advancement of the fire."

The house, built in 1890, was owned by Lori Santini. She was at work and her children were in school when the fire broke out.

The fire appears to have started in an addition on the eastern side of the house at the location of a heat stove.

"Firefighters were able to retrieve a family pet, a dog, so the dog is out safely," Yaeger said.

However, the family cats were not located and are not believed to have survived, Newton said. The family also had pet birds and a pet newt. The fire did not spread to the nearby chicken coop and the chickens are apparently fine.

"It's always difficult to deal with that (a fire at the home of a volunteer firefighter), but thankfully everybody is OK, she's OK, the family is OK, and no injuries reported here of firefighters so far. Everybody is safe," Yaeger said.

The house and all of its contents were a complete loss. 

"We talked about Red Cross, but the chiefs said they will take care of her, so I'm sure she's in good hands," Yaeger said.

Newton said his department will likely head a communitywide effort to assist Santini and her children. The Batavian will share more information about assistance efforts when it becomes available.

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.