Fire In The Sky
CLAREMONT Shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, the Wilcox Fire Department was dispatched to what was described as a “large outdoor fire” near the Instanter Boat Launch on East Branch Dam in Elk County.
All units responded along with the three fire chiefs to the boat launch, to meet with a gentleman who had been on the water with his family and had seen the large fire.
“When we arrived there was no fire in sight but a person in Wilcox reported he had heard a loud explosion just prior to the department being dispatched. Since we could find no fire, we returned to our station,” Wilcox Fire Chief Fred Maletto said. “No sooner had we returned to Station 6, we were again dispatched by Elk County Control to another large outdoor fire and explosion near 12200 Wilcox Road in Mckean County for Mutual Aid. At that time, we responded with all three chiefs, nine firefighters, Utility 613 and 614. No engines were called for and we requested Ridgway Ambulance to cover any Wilcox area Emergency Medical Service ( EMS) calls,” Maletto said.
The explosion and fire were actually on the Mckean/elk County line in Clermont, PA. Also dispatched to this large gas fire under mutual aid agreements were the following fire departments: Hamlin Township, Norwich, Eldred, Mt Jewett, and Smethport.
Mckean County Commissioner, Tom Kreiner also reported to the scene. He reported the explosion was from a leak in the Tennessee Gas Pipeline causing the huge fire.
“There has been no report of injuries from this explosion at the scene,” Kreiner said.
He added personnel from Tennessee Gas were en route to the scene as were personnel from DCNR to assist with “mopping” up the fire scene in the woods.
Incident command was terminated shortly after 9 p.m. and fire companies were back in service.