...Winter weather advisory in effect from 2 pm this afternoon to 6 pm EST Saturday... The national weather service in state college has issued a winter weather advisory for snow...which is in effect from 2 pm this afternoon to 6 pm EST Saturday. A developing storm will track northeast to near Cape Hatteras by early Saturday...then move out over the Atlantic Ocean Saturday. Light snow will overspread the area this afternoon. The snow will increase in intensity later today...and will last through Saturday morning. Snow could fall heavy at times this evening and overnight before tapering to scattered snow showers by mid day Saturday. Total snowfall accumulations are expected to average between 2 and 5 inches across the advisory area. Precautionary/preparedness actions... A winter weather advisory for snow means that periods of snow will cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for snow covered roads and limited visibilities...and use caution while driving. Stay tuned to NOAA weather radio or your favorite source of weather information for the latest updates. Additional details can also be found at... http://weather.gov/statecollege.

The following locations are affected:

...major snowstorm for south central Pennsylvania... .intensifying low pressure will track from the gulf coast states today to off the Virginia coast by Saturday afternoon. This system will bring heavy snow across south central Pennsylvania late today through early Saturday. Paz010 > 012-060430- /o.exa.kctp.ww.y.0010.100205t1900z-100206t2300z/ Elk-Cameron-Northern Clinton- 111

The Austin Fire Dept will be hosting a Mercy Flight ground crew safety training program on Sunday, April 18, 2010 at 1:00 pm at the Austin Fire Station.

Mercy Flight will be landing at the Austin Area School between 12:00-12:30 pm.  Training instruction will be held at the Austin Fire Station. Program held weather permitting.

This program is designed to educate Fire & EMS personnel (including Junior Members) about:

Guidelines or helicopter utilization/ Use of airborne stand-by’s On-scene response information / Patient preparation / Establishing landing sites / Communications procedures / Ground safety rules

The program will last approximately 1 hour 15 minutes.

Each participant will receive Mercy Flight Ground Crew reflective helmet stickers & certificate of completion.

Contact Potter County DES by April 12th to confirm your attendance   814-274-8900 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A tractor-trailer crash and fire near the Jehovah Witness church on Rt 6 west of Port Allegany has resulted in that road being closed. Port Allegany (McKean Dept 3) was dispatched for the incident at approximately 0200 hrs. The first chief on scene reported the truck over the embankment and fully involved upon arrival. The driver was out of the vehicle and reported no hazardous materials on board the vehicle.  A large amount of diesel fuel had leaked from the trucks saddle tanks.

The driver was transported to Coudersport hospital for treatment by Port Allegany ambulance. An engine and tanker were requested from Smethport (McKean Dept. 2) to assist in fire suppression. Roulette Dept 46 responded with an engine to cover Station 3 in Port Allegany.

Further information on this incident can be found on the Star Hose Co. web site.

At aproximately 1240 hrs on Tuesday Feb 2 Coudersport Dept 48 was dispatched to a working structure fire on Woodlawn Ave. in the Borough. Upon arrival the structure was heavily involved on the east end of the structure. A second alarm was requested bringing a response from Austin Dept 44, Roulette Dept 46 and Galeton Dept 10. The structure sustained heavy damage.

More photos can be found in our Photo Gallery

In Bradford, PA this afternoon, a working house fire left 2 FF's injured-1 critical with burns.

The 2nd alarm fire resulted in 1 Firefighter falling approximately 10 ft from a ladder, ending up with minor injuries but a 2nd Firefighter, who was making an interior attack on the well involved 2nd floor, was burned. One unconfirmed report is that the Firefighters mask dislodged and he then inhaled large amounts of superheated air and smoke.  Firefighter Todd McClain was treated and removed to the hospital but was then transferred to Erie County Medical Center-Buffalo Burn Unit with severe respiratory burns. He is sedated and intubated. Updates to follow.

UPDATE: Friday, January 29, 2010 - In Bradford, PA yesterday afternoon, a working house fire left 2 FF's injured-1 critical with burns but has now been upgraded to FAIR condition. The 2nd alarm fire resulted in 1 Firefighter falling approximately 10 ft from a ladder, ending up with minor injuries but a 2nd Firefighter, who was making an interior attack on the well involved 2nd floor, was burned. One unconfirmed report is that the Firefighters mask dislodged and he then inhaled large amounts of superheated air and smoke.  Firefighter Todd McClain was treated and removed to the hospital but was then transferred to Erie County Medical Center-Buffalo (New York) Burn Unit with severe respiratory burns. He is sedated and intubated. Updates to follow.