West County On Scene

July 1, 2026rescue

Worker Rescued After Trench Collapse in Girard Township

Lake City, PA – This afternoon at around 1 PM, first responders from Lake City Fire Company and West County Paramedics were dispatched for a reported trench collapse with one person trapped in the vicinity of Hall Avenue in Lake City Borough. A.F. Dobler Hose Company, Springfield Volunteer Fire Department, and Cranesville Volunteer Fire Department were also dispatched to assist.While crews were responding, Erie County 911 advised that a trench had collapsed with a worker buried up to their head, with only the victim’s head visible. Workers at the scene were reportedly attempting to dig the individual out. Chief 560 requested Perry Hi-Way Hose Company be added to the assignment with its trench rescue resources. County also advised that the Erie County Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team was available if needed, while police recommending responders access the scene via Clifton Drive. Chief 560 subsequently requested the USAR Team be dispatched, noting that Engine 563 was temporarily delayed by a passing train.Perry Hi-Way responded shortly afterward with its trench rescue trailer. While units continued responding, Erie County advised that police reported the victim had been freed from the collapse but remained inside the trench. Chief 560 requested all incoming units continue responding until he arrived on scene to better assess the situation.A short time later, the train cleared, allowing Engine 563 to arrive. Chief 560 then advised that the victim had been removed from the trench and released all incoming mutual aid units except for Lake City Fire Company and West County Paramedics.At the scene, firefighters and EMS personnel assisted with transferring the patient onto a stretcher before loading them into the awaiting ambulance. One person was transported by West County Paramedics 112 to a nearby hospital. No further information is currently available.

Published a day ago57

June 30, 2026water rescue

Multiple Agencies Respond to Offshore Rescue After Boat Capsizes in Lake Erie

Girard Township, PA – This morning at approximately 7:20 AM, Lake City Fire Company, Springfield Volunteer Fire Department, Fairview Lake Shore Fire Department, and West County Paramedics were dispatched for a water rescue approximately seven miles offshore from the Bluffs at Erie Bluffs State Park. Initial reports indicated that a boat with five souls on board had capsized and was sinking, with one individual believed to be trapped beneath the vessel.Chief 560 requested dive teams from the City of Erie Fire and Fuller Hose. Additionally, Conneaut Fire Department was added to the assignment, responding with both a rescue boat and dive team.Lake City’s Rescue 579 and Boat 578 responded to the mouth of Elk Creek, while Fairview Lake Shore’s Rescue 508 responded to Walnut Creek Marina to rendezvous with Boat 519. Boat 578 launched from Elk Creek utilizing an amphibious launch with two personnel on board, while Boat 519 launched from Walnut Creek with four personnel. Erie County 911 paged the vessel’s coordinates to responding units to assist with locating the incident.While crews were en route, Erie County 911 advised that the caller remained on the line and reported another vessel in the area. Occupants of the capsized boat fired a distress flare, which Boat 519 observed and used to guide them to the scene.Boat 519 arrived shortly afterward and located the overturned vessel with one individual on top. No other occupants were immediately visible. Moments later, crews learned that three victims had been rescued by a Good Samaritan vessel. At that time, four of the five occupants had been accounted for, with one individual still believed to be trapped beneath the overturned boat. The three individuals aboard the Good Sam vessel were then transferred onto Boat 519.The United States Coast Guard arrived on scene shortly afterward. Meanwhile, the City of Erie dive team arrived at the Elk Creek access and immediately began preparing for dive operations. Divers suited up, assembled their equipment, and utilized one of Lake City’s smaller boats to depart land and head for the ongoing rescue operation.At approximately 8:17 AM, a rescue swimmer from Boat 578 evaluated the overturned vessel and prepared to enter the water. The swimmer confirmed that one victim was located beneath the boat, and crews assessed the safest method of extrication. Moments later, the victim was removed from beneath the vessel and transferred to the Coast Guard boat, where lifesaving efforts immediately began. The Coast Guard vessel then transported the victim to Walnut Creek Marina with Lake City personnel on board.Shortly afterward, West County Paramedics 112, Medic 1, West County 115, and Millcreek Fire’s 927 responded to Walnut Creek Marina to assist with patient care. Once all five occupants had been accounted for, dive teams were ordered to return to Elk Creek. Millcreek Boat 497 remained on scene with the capsized vessel to obtain additional drift information and updated coordinates.All responding boats eventually returned to Walnut Creek Marina, where EMS personnel evaluated the rescued occupants. One victim was transported to a local hospital in unknown condition.

Published 2 days ago129

June 28, 2026water rescue

Boat Taking on Water Prompts Multi-Agency Response Near Walnut Creek Marina

Fairview Township, PA – Water rescue personnel were dispatched Sunday afternoon after reports of a vessel taking on water near the Walnut Creek Marina. At approximately 2 PM, Fairview Lake Shore Fire Department was dispatched for a possible watercraft in distress in the vicinity of the Walnut Creek Marina. Lake City Fire Company and West County Paramedics 116 were also dispatched to assist. While crews were en route, the Erie County Department of Public Safety advised responding units that the original report came from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, which believed the vessel was taking on water. Responders were advised to look for a 23-foot white-and-blue boat with five people aboard.Fairview Lake Shore’s Rescue 508 responded to the Walnut Creek Marina to rendezvous with Boat 519, which then launched with a crew of four toward the coordinates provided by Erie County Dispatch. Meanwhile, Lake City Fire Company’s Utility 579 responded to Avonia Beach, where Boat 578 was launched amphibiously with a crew of three.Boat 519 arrived on scene a short time later and located the distressed vessel. The U.S. Coast Guard was already on scene, with most of the five occupants transferred aboard the Coast Guard vessel. Coast Guard personnel remained on the disabled boat, actively bailing water as it was taken under tow.The Coast Guard towed the vessel back to the Walnut Creek Marina while continuing efforts to remove water. Once inside the marina, crews attempted to secure the boat alongside the courtesy dock and load it onto a trailer. Despite those efforts, the vessel continued taking on water, eventually sinking and coming to rest on the bottom of the marina. The Pennsylvania Great Lakes Emergency Spill Response Trailer was requested to the scene for containment booms. Fire department personnel then deployed containment booms around the submerged vessel to help contain a fuel leak.

Published 4 days ago143

June 7, 2026motor vehicle accident

Emergency Crews Respond to Overturned Vehicle and Damaged Home on Route 6N

Elk Creek Township, PA – This morning at approximately 10:10 AM, rescue and emergency medical personnel from Edinboro Volunteer Fire Department and Central County Paramedics were dispatched to a reported motor vehicle accident with ejection in the vicinity of 7900 Route 6N. Pennsylvania State Police from the Girard barracks responded promptly to the scene. Due to the nature of the incident, STAT MedEvac was also placed on standby.Edinboro Ambulance 388 went enroute within one minute of dispatch. Shortly after, Erie County Department of Public Safety (ECDOPS) advised responding units that additional 911 calls had been received, providing updated information that there was an additional occupant still within the vehicle. As a result, additional EMS resources were requested, including Cranesville Squad 617, West County 116, and Medic 1.ECDOPS later advised that STAT MedEvac 17 had an estimated arrival time of approximately 15 minutes. Based on the information being received from the scene, Ambulance 388 requested that the helicopter begin responding. A short time later, ECDOPS confirmed that STAT 17 was enroute and that a second helicopter had been placed on standby.Edinboro Ambulance 387 and Rescue 384 also responded to the scene. The first arriving Edinboro unit confirmed one individual trapped inside the vehicle and another occupant located in a nearby ditch. Chief 601 reported a single vehicle overturned onto its roof and advised that the crash had also caused structural damage to a nearby residence. Due to the vehicle blocking the roadway, Route 6N was closed at Ivera Road. Shortly thereafter, L1 advised that the trapped occupant had been successfully extricated.Engine 382 was initially assigned to establish a landing zone for STAT MedEvac at Walmart. However, L8 later advised that all patients would be transported by ground and requested the helicopter be canceled. Engine 382 was subsequently redirected to the crash scene, where crews assisted with roadway closures by placing traffic cones across Route 6N at Route 98 to stop westbound traffic.Upon arrival of Rescue 384, crews evaluated the residence for structural integrity and secured utilities to the building, including both electric and natural gas service. No one was reportedly at the residence at the time of the crash. Ambulances 387 and 388 transported patients to a nearby hospital. Medic 1 and West County 116 were subsequently released from the incident and returned to service.Franklin Township Fire Department was later dispatched to assist with traffic control at the intersections of Route 6N and Route 98, as well as Route 6N and Ivera Road, while Pennsylvania State Police conducted an extended investigation. No further details have been released.

Published 25 days ago557

June 5, 2026motor vehicle accident

Semi Rollover Shuts Down I-90 Westbound Near Bear Creek Road

McKean Township, PA – First responders from McKean Hose Company, West County Paramedics, and Central County Paramedics were dispatched at around 3:20 AM Friday morning for a reported semi-truck rollover on Interstate 90 westbound near the 18-mile marker, just east of the Bear Creek Road overpass.West County 116 and Medic 4 responded shortly after dispatch. Erie County Dispatch advised that multiple callers were reporting the accident, and STAT MedEvac was placed on standby with an estimated 25-minute response time if needed. Rescue 408 responded to the accident within a couple minutes later.West County 116 arrived on scene and reported a tractor-trailer on its driver’s side blocking both westbound travel lanes. Initial reports indicated the driver was trapped inside the cab, with the windshield remaining intact. However, crews later advised that the driver was able to exit the cab without the need for advanced rescue operations.The tractor-trailer was reportedly hauling packages at the time of the crash. EMS personnel evaluated the driver, and West County 116 transported the patient to a nearby hospital for further evaluation. Due to the complete blockage of the westbound lanes, Fairview Lake Shore Fire Department was dispatched to assist with closing Interstate 90 at Exit 18 (Sterrettania Road) while emergency crews operated on the roadway.A heavy wrecker arrived on scene shortly after and was able to upright and remove the overturned tractor-trailer in a relatively short period of time. Once the vehicle was removed and debris cleared, Interstate 90 westbound was reopened to traffic.Near the scene, signs of the crash extended into the eastbound lanes. A construction arrow board sign was found mangled along the shoulder, while skid marks could be seen crossing the eastbound lanes, through the median, and into the westbound lanes. Damage to the guardrail was observed in the area where the overturned tractor-trailer was ultimately located by first responders.No additional information regarding the cause of the crash or the driver’s condition has been released at this time.

Published a month ago78

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