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A one-car accident is reported on the Thruway at the 48A westbound on ramp. An occupant is complaining of unknown injuries. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments and Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE 7:10 p.m.: A responder on scene says the car has heavy damage and is now in the woods after rolling over numerous times. Responders will have to go eastbound and take the Route 77 overpass to get to the location.

UPDATE 7:16 p.m.: There is one occupant, who was out of the vehicle -- walking, conscious and alert -- when medics arrived. He will be boarded and collared as per protocol and taken to a local hospital. State Troopers are also on scene.

UPDATE 7:29 p.m.: Pembroke and Indians Falls are back in service.

A car-into-pole accident is reported on Fox Road in Oakfield. The driver is not injured. The utility pole is in the roadway, prompting Oakfield Fire Police to shut down Fox at Maltby Road and at Route 262. A Sheriff's deputy is responding. Oakfield fire units are on standby in quarters. National Grid has been notified, no arrival time given.

A "fire explosion" is reported a quarter of a mile west of 2965 Pike Road in Alexander, which is the caller's address. Alexander and East Pembroke fire departments are responding.

UPDATE 8:13 p.m.: A firefighter is on scene and reports he's not sure what's burning there. The location is west of Upton Road.

UPDATE 8:17 p.m.: The firefighter on scene says it's a controlled burn that the fire department will have to extinguish. East Pembroke is put back in service.

UPDATE 9:11 p.m.: The location was determined to be 2929 Pike Road and the incident stemmed from a small rubbish fire. The homeowner has been apprised of new open burning laws and the Alexander Fire Department is back in service.

The Elba Girls Basketball Team won the Western New York Regional Championship match against Clymer High School this afternoon at Finger Lakes Community College with a final score of 53 to 37.

The Lady Lancers now advance to the state semi-finals in a game next week in Albany.

Pictures T/K

The blowing snow has apparently created somewhat of a driving hazard for eastbound drivers on East Main Street in the City of Batavia. Snow has reportedly blocked out the traffic lights at a couple of signals near East Main and Bank streets. A caller tells dispatch that you can't tell which light is showing -- red, yellow or green.

Press release:

The Genesee County Mental Health Association is now accepting nominations for the Constance E. Miller Award of Excellence which will be presented at the annual meeting on May 15.

The Constance E. Miller Award is given annually to an individual or organization that demonstrates a commitment to excellence, pertinent to the delivery and/or advocacy of quality, community-based mental health services.

Please submit nominations by Monday, April 2 to:

Millie Tomidy-Pepper, executive director

Mental Health Association of Genesee County

25 Liberty St.

Batavia, NY 14020

or by email at mtomidy@2ki.net

Please include a short biography of the individual or organization along with an explanation of why you feel they are deserving of this award.

Tomorrow is the first of three singing auditions for students in grades 8 to 12 in Genesee and Orleans counties who would like to participate in a professionally recorded music project with renowned local artist Lisa Barrett.

The Batavia singer/songwriter wrote a poignant song called "Everyday Hero" -- about youths who choose to be drug, alcohol and tobacco free, and who are positive leaders. She is sponsored by GCASA, where she is a prevention educator, and received a Reach Grant this year from GO ART!

Barrett is hoping to gather a choir of about 30 students to perform this song on Saturday, April 30, at the Linden Oaks Studio in Rochester where it will be professionally recorded.

After the recording is complete, the song will then be turned into a You Tube music video.

Along with the audition, potential choir members will be asked to submit a short essay. The essay content should include why they want to be a part of this project, as well as their views on tobacco, drugs and alcohol use.

Either email completed essays to lbarrett@gcasa.org or bring a copy to the audition.

The auditions will be held at GCASA’s Batavia site, 430 E. Main St.

The audition dates are as follows:

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, March 10
• 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 14
• 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, March 22

For more information, contact Lisa by phoning 815-1879 or by email at lbarrett@gcasa.org

The Everyday Heroes Project is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Heavy smoke is spewing from the chimney of a church in Pembroke that has been converted into a house, according to a Pembroke firefighter on scene. The location is 690 Main Road on the corner of Lake Road. It looks like it's confined to the chimney. Corfu and Darien are also responding.

UPDATE 5:29 p.m.: The address is determined to be 8576 North Lake Road. Indian Falls is responding, too. All incoming units are to stage at Pembroke Engine 85, which is in a driveway across the street.

UPDATE 5:32 p.m.: They are trying to contact the homeowner regarding entry to the house but "have not heard back."

UPDATE 5:34 p.m.: An unlocked door has been located on the north side of the structure. Interior firefighters are going to enter "to see what we can see." A firefighter warns that dogs can be heard barking inside. Akron is on scene. They are putting up ladder(s) on the roof.

UPDATE 5:37 p.m.: Two dogs are seen locked in the basement along with a cat. There's no smoke. The furnace is on. The cat is running around. They'll need to gain front entry to get to the basement. They have not been able to contact the occupants. Animal control is not available, according to dispatch. A code enforcement officer is called. There are multiple renovations under way. They are putting up a light tower and taking statements from people at the scene.

UPDATE 5:43 p.m.: They are going to contact the owner of the building, who lives in Indian Falls. The interior crew has reached the stove in the center of the building and they have knocked the fire down, now checking for extentions. Firefighters have to be careful inside as there are places where flooring is missing and there are open beams.

UPDATE 5:45 p.m.: They are shutting off the gas to the stove, which was "jerry-rigged," according to a firefighter. National Fuel has been contacted.

UPDATE 5:52 p.m.: One of the occupants has been located at the Union Hotel and firefighters are speaking with him. They are getting into the basement. They are all set with manpower and will begin releasing some of the responders.

UPDATE 5:55 p.m.: The Town of Pembroke's building inspector is going to be contacted. "It's definately needed," says the firefighter making the request. The female occupant is heading to the scene.

UPDATE 6:03 p.m.: "You can disregard contacting the building inspector. We're on the phone with zoning now." Once the occupant arrives, she can "take care of the dogs so we can get in there."

UPDATE 6:10 p.m.: A zoning officer is on scene.

UPDATE 6:14 p.m.: Corfu units are leaving the scene, in service. A National Fuel rep is on site.

UPDATE 6:30 p.m.: Darien is back in quarters. The zoning officer has been provided the appropriate paperwork from the fire chief and there will be no further use of the chimney allowed at the residence until proper repairs are made and there is a re-inspection.

A barn fire is reported at the Miller farm in the Town of Darien. It's located at 9697 Ridge Road. Darien Fire Department is responding along with mutual aid from Alexander and Corfu.

Caller is the owner who says flames are shooting out of one end of the barn and there's a possibility other structures nearby could be compromised.

UPDATE 1:37 p.m.: The fire has gone to a second alarm and mutual aid is called in from Pembroke, East Pembroke, the Town of Batavia and the city's Fast Team. The city's first platoon is called to stand by in quarters. There are three sites of fire inside the barn.

UPDATE 1:40 p.m.: County emergency coordinators are called to the scene. Monroe County Water Authority is notified of the fire, and tanker personnel are communicatinn on the "water channel."

"I have the owner heading up toward you. All the barns are full of pigs."

UPDATE 1:48 p.m.: Indian Falls is also responding along with Attica. "I need all available manpower to the back of the barn."

UPDATE 1:51: All available manpower from the Town of Batavia is called in.

UPDATE 1:53 p.m.: Wyoming County offers Bennington's "Super Tanker" and it is called in.

UPDATE 1:58 p.m.: Akron,  Alden, and Crittenden are assisting or called to assist.

UPDATE 2:01 p.m.: Oakfield is responding.

UPDATE 2:05 p.m.: "The fire is contained to the center of the building." This is a hog farm. The pigs are in their pens and the roof over them is on fire. They are frantically working to save the livestock. Stafford is called to stand by in Town of Batavia's Station 2.

UPDATE 2:09 p.m.: Firefighters on scene are saying the first responders did a good job of knocking down the fire's progress northward where most of the hogs are penned.

UPDATE 2:11 p.m.: The power is on in the building. All incoming responders are told to take their time getting to the scene because they'll be waiting in line. The staging area is behind City of Batavia's Engine 12. Some firefighters are working to ventilate the buildings so the pigs can breathe more comfortably.

UPDATE 2:15 p.m.: A gas-fired ventilation fan is requested to the staging area, but the one on hand is electric.

UPDATE 2:42 p.m.: Firefighters are overhauling the burned barn then the plan is to shut water down there, dismantle and bring in a truck to transport the hogs.

UPDATE 3:04 p.m.: The farm is owned by Charlie Miller. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. It appears to have started in the nursery.

UPDATE 4:06 p.m.: All available manpower from Darien is called to the scene. Crews are breaking down their equipment and preparing to clear out.

UPDATE 4:16 p.m.: Darien and Corfu are to remain at the scene. All other tankers and equipment from mutual aid responders are released.

UPDATE 5:26 p.m.: Darien went back in service from this scene at 5:14 p.m., but is now providing mutual aid at a chimney fire in Pembroke.

The Darien Fire Department is responding to a call to aid a citizen who accidently locked herself out of the house, located at 3564 County Line Road, with the stove on in the kitchen. Firefighters are advised to be aware of the small dog inside the residence. It is the second house south of the railroad tracks.

UPDATE 5:38 p.m.: Firefighters are on scene evaluating the best method to gain entry.

UPDATE 5:43 p.m.: "Genesee we're all set here. Got entry. Everything's fine.We're in service."