Cattaraugus County · Asheville · Structure Fire

A Shop and Barn Go Up Fully Engulfed Before Dawn in Asheville, Pulling Companies From Across the County

“Everything’s on fire,” a chief radioed as crews toned out tankers and mutual-aid engines to a structure fire on Ramblin’ Hill Road.

Just before 5:40 AM, crews were toned to a shop and barn structure fire at 8023 Ramblin' Hill Road in the Asheville area, with a chief arriving to find the building fully involved — “Everything's on fire”, as one unit put it flatly over the air. Car 304 went en route to the station for a tanker, and Ambulance 281 marked up as the first pieces moved.

The response built into a multi-company mutual-aid assignment — a Rate 3 call — with Engine 3-3-2 and Engine 3-3-3 setting up on scene and a chief calling for “an engine from somewhere to stand by”. Units from Asheville and neighboring companies worked the fully engulfed structure through the pre-dawn hours. The scanner did not broadcast injuries or a cause before the thread moved on.

Chautauqua County · Lincoln Avenue · Knife Brawl

A Knife Brawl Breaks Out on Lincoln Avenue, and a 5-Year-Old Is Hurt in the Chaos

A large fight with knives drew a heavy multi-unit response to a Dunkirk-area home, where a child struck a head on a coffee table amid the melee.

Late yesterday, around 9:56 PM, dispatchers broadcast a large fight at 81 Lincoln Avenue — a brawl reported to involve knives, with a 5-year-old suffering a head injury on a coffee table in the middle of it. Fire units staged Rescue 1 and Engine 4 while police moved in, and multiple units were requested as the scene developed.

The address had already generated a property-damage dispute earlier in the afternoon on Lincoln Avenue, with families reported threatening violence. The scanner did not broadcast the extent of the child's injury or any arrests before the thread closed.

Cattaraugus County · Olean Middle School · Missing Child

Olean Police Put Out a BOLO for a 12-Year-Old Girl Who Never Came Home From School

Desiree Ellis was dropped at Olean Middle School at 7:30 AM and had not returned home by nightfall, prompting a lookout broadcast to every car.

Late yesterday, around 10:48 PM, an Olean dispatcher told cars to copy a lookout: “Be on the lookout for Desiree Ellis, 12-year-old female wearing blue Crocs, black shorts, 5'5", last seen 7:30 a.m.”. Ellis stands 5'5" and about 210 pounds, last seen in blue Crocs and black shorts. She had been dropped at Olean Middle School at 7:30 AM and had not returned home.

Units checked locations through the night; one officer cleared a spot negative, and another noted they would “check some public areas” to see if they got lucky. The scanner did not broadcast that the girl had been found before the thread closed.

Buffalo · Virginia / Delaware · School Bus Crash

A School Bus Full of Children Is Struck by Two Cars at Virginia and Delaware

Buffalo Fire rolled Engine 2, Ladder 2, and Rescue 1 to a morning crash with children aboard; firefighters found no one trapped and no injuries.

Early this morning, at 6:48 AM, Buffalo Fire sent Engine 2, Ladder 2, and Rescue 1 to Virginia and Delaware for a motor vehicle accident involving a school bus with several children aboard, plus a car, with airbags deployed. A second bus was requested as crews sized up the scene with multiple children aboard.

By 6:52 AM a chief radioed the reassuring picture: “You got two cars and a school bus, no one traveling. Looks like no injuries right now”. Children signed off and three drivers were evaluated for injury before Rescue 1 picked up and went back in service. The scanner cleared the call with no one transported.

Buffalo · Dodge / Jefferson · Entrapment MVA

A Woman Is Trapped in Her SUV After a Two-Car Crash at Dodge and Jefferson

Buffalo officers shut down Jefferson Avenue in both directions as they pulled cars to the scene of a Chevy Traverse with a female trapped inside.

Yesterday afternoon, around 3:39 PM, a Buffalo officer radioed an injury accident at Dodge and Jefferson — two vehicles, with a female trapped in a Chevy Traverse. The dispatcher and units pushed cars toward the scene fast and worked to stop traffic to clear a lane for rescue.

An officer ordered all traffic on Jefferson Avenue shut down in both directions from Best to Northampton while crews worked. The scanner did not broadcast the extent of the woman's injuries before the thread moved on.

Wyoming County · Jordan Road · Farm Truck Rollover

A Farm Truck Rolls Over With a Driver Trapped and Fluids Leaking Near Jordan Road

Wyoming County crews toned mutual aid and put Mercy Flight on standby for a rollover with entrapment at Jordan Road and School Road.

Yesterday afternoon, around 4:44 PM, Wyoming County dispatch toned crews to Jordan Road and School Road for a farm truck that had rolled over with entrapment and fluids leaking. A first-arriving unit described it as possibly a silage truck, reporting it was leaking as crews rolled in.

The response pulled in Gainesville and Silver Springs units, with Medic 1 coming from the North Java area and Mercy Flight out of Batavia placed on standby. Crews asked to block the road at Jordan and Broughton as they worked the scene. The scanner did not broadcast the driver's condition before the thread closed.

Amherst · Boulevard Mall · Missing Teen

Amherst Officers Fan Out Near the Boulevard Mall for a 17-Year-Old Who Made Suicidal Statements

A dispatcher steered cars toward quiet spots behind the mall, describing a teen who left home on foot after troubling remarks.

Yesterday evening, around 8:29 PM, Amherst police began looking for a 17-year-old male who “made some suicidal statements” after leaving home. A dispatcher relayed that he might be “either behind the Bob Evans there or the Boulevard Mall”, and that he seemed to head to quiet places.

He was described as a thin Black male, about 5'7" and 130 pounds, with short hair and dressed all in black, and units were steered to check the area. The scanner did not broadcast that the teen had been located before the thread moved on.

Chautauqua County · Jamestown · The Brawler

The Porch Prowler of West 15th Street Unmasked: It Was a Raccoon

A woman heard someone on her porch she was too afraid to confront. The resolution was both less and more than she feared.

Early this morning, at 4:05 AM, Jamestown units were sent to 5 West 15th Street, where a caller could hear someone on her porch but was unable to go check for herself. Four minutes later, the responding officer delivered the verdict with deadpan economy: “The brawler was a raccoon. It was moved along”. One porch prowler, apprehended, relocated, released.

Erie County · I-190 Woods · The Dog's Reward

After a Midnight Manhunt in the Trees, the K-9 Comes Back With One Thing: A Shoe

Troopers and county units tracked a fleeing subject through the woods; the Buffalo dog did its job, more or less.

Just after midnight, with a search strung between tree lines off the Silver Creek exit, dispatch thanked the handlers — “Thank you, Buffalo Dogs. We'll finish here” — and the chase for a fleeing subject reached its one concrete result. The report came back crisp over the Thruway channel: “The dog located the shoe”. The subject stayed gone; the footwear did not.

↗ Related: same_incident

Amherst · Hopkins / Millersport · The Pill Mix-Up

A Driver Blames the Dark Car Interior After Swapping His Tylenol for Adderall

It was dark, he reached for the Tylenol, and somehow the Adderall went down instead — an honest overnight mix-up in Amherst.

Late yesterday, around 9:52 PM, Amherst units worked a check near Hopkins and Millersport that produced one of the overnight's more relatable confessions: in the dark of the subject's car, he thought he was taking Tylenol and took his Adderall instead. A pharmacy footnote the whole class can relate to — just don't drive on it.

Buffalo · Pennsylvania / Prospect · False Alarm

A Reported Natural-Gas Leak Clears Its Nose and Admits the Truth: It's the Sewer

Engine 2 investigated a rotten-odor call near Pennsylvania and Prospect and found a culprit far less explosive than feared.

Early this morning, around 6:20 AM, Buffalo Fire responded to a report of a natural-gas odor near Pennsylvania and Prospect, with a chief, Engine 2, and a ladder dispatched on a Level 2 alarm. The crew's on-scene finding punctured the drama neatly: “Don't smell any natural gas. It just smells like the sewer”. Dispatch logged it as a good intent, chalked it up to a sewer issue, and put the companies back in service.

Amherst · Getzville · To Reopen or Not to Reopen

The Eternal Dispatcher's Question: Do You Want Another Call, or Should I Just Reopen It?

Amid a Getzville fire-alarm run, a small moment of radio existentialism.

Yesterday at 5:00 PM, as Getzville units handled a commercial fire-alarm activation at the Brewster Mews Apartments on Robin Road, the dispatch desk posed a question of pure bureaucratic philosophy to a crew: “Do you want another call or do you want me to just reopen it?”. The answer, like the alarm, has since reset.

Amherst · Dannybrook Apartments Fire

Working Fire Evacuates Dannybrook Apartments on Palmdale Drive

Just after 8:18 PM yesterday, Amherst Fire dispatch sent Main-Transit companies to 181 Palmdale Drive at the Dannybrook Apartments, between Bryan Avenue and Maple Road, after a caller reported smoke and flames in apartment number 6; a chief on the radio declared a working fire within the first minute of the call.

A caller told dispatchers everyone was out of the building as Main-Transit Engine 1, Truck 6, Main-Transit 2 and East Amherst 9-1 converged on the complex; crews were directed to a private hydrant on the east side of the lot and public hydrants at 148 and 100 Palmdale Drive, with one engine told to lay a supply line in from the rear parking lot.

Within about five minutes, Main-Transit 6 and Truck 6 reported on location and fireground communications switched to channel 2 as additional mutual-aid companies continued to arrive.

Amherst · Main Street

Welfare Check at Main Street Tavern Turns Up Suspected Fentanyl Ingestion

Yesterday just after 11:30 PM, Amherst police dispatch sent a unit to 3989 Main Street, Brunner's Tavern, for a welfare check requested by a girlfriend who was not on scene; she told dispatchers her boyfriend was intoxicated inside and had the couple's 15-year-old son with him.

While officers were still en route, dispatch upgraded the call, relaying that the woman involved was now admitting she had ingested fentanyl and that her condition was deteriorating; a unit started toward the scene and another officer offered to cover the area around Main Street.

Amherst · Allenhurst Avenue

Amherst Officers Search for Man and Minivan, Come Up Empty at Two Addresses

Just after 5:49 PM yesterday, Amherst Police units searched for a man connected to a white Volkswagen minivan, relaying a partial plate as they worked to identify the vehicle northbound on the Boulevard near Oxford.

The plate check came back empty, and dispatch asked an officer to run the man's name through records instead; by 5:51 PM, a unit reported the vehicle was not at a house on Allenhurst Avenue, and another officer checking a nearby business found only a U-Haul van in the lot.

Buffalo · Edison Avenue

Police Respond to Reported Rape in Progress on Edison Avenue

Just after 12:33 AM, Buffalo police dispatch sent units to answer a call at 314 Edison Avenue after the complainant's child relayed that her mother was being raped and that the man in the home kept trying to attack her; the child said the mother was in fear for her life.

A few minutes later, officers identified on the radio as Taylor 412 reported handling the matter as a 9-41, a mental-hygiene designation, and the call was cleared without further detail broadcast over the air.

Buffalo · Walnut Street

Missing Autistic Teen, Separate Assault Reported Near Arthur Street

Yesterday around 5:28 PM, Buffalo police dispatch sent Delta cars to 55 Arthur Street on a report involving an 11-year-old girl, and a caller told dispatchers the girl's 14-year-old autistic cousin had since left the house on foot in an unknown direction; the family reportedly declined an ambulance for the girl.

Minutes later, radio traffic described the matter as involving a rape and a missing vulnerable person, and a separate call came in for an assault in progress near Ontario Street and Newfield, where dispatchers said two men were reported beating another person.

Around the same time, officers broadcast an attempt-to-locate for a 14-year-old identified as Joel Mercado, last seen near downtown wearing a black polo, lavender hoodie and black do-rag with bleached dreads, after a caller on Walnut Street reported him missing; a later update described a possible sighting of a similarly dressed young man near Mortimer and Sycamore.

Lackawanna · Welfare Check

Lackawanna Officers Sent to Check on Woman in Reported Abusive Relationship

Just after 10:13 PM yesterday, Lackawanna Police dispatch sent an officer to look for a woman identified on the radio as Kayla Szymanski, after her stepfather called to report she was in an abusive relationship and he had not been able to reach her.

Cheektowaga · Borden Road

School Bus Carrying Ten Kids Collides With Car on Borden Road

Yesterday just after 4:01 PM, Cheektowaga police dispatch sent a traffic car to Borden Road at French Road for a school bus versus car collision; dispatch initially could not confirm whether children were aboard the bus.

Dispatch quickly corrected the location to Borden at Franson and upgraded the call to an injury accident, confirming there were children on the bus; a second unit was sent to assist.

Depew · Raleigh Road

Missing Depew Teen Located After Afternoon Search

Yesterday just after 5:15 PM, Depew police dispatch took a report from a mother at 580 Raleigh Road that her 14-year-old daughter had not come home from school; the mother said the girl had gone missing once before and had turned up on 5th Avenue, and thought she might be at the Burger King on Broadway.

An officer checked the Broadway Burger King and spoke with one of the girl's friends, who said she had not seen her there, before another unit was sent to check 5th Avenue and officers reported being on location roughly a half hour after the initial call.

Orchard Park · Countryside Apartments

CPR Delayed as Crews Struggle to Free Unresponsive Man From Chair

Yesterday at 6:37 PM, Orchard Park Fire dispatch sent a full assist to 115 Countryside, Apartment 4, for a man reported unresponsive and not breathing — a possible cardiac arrest; units 881, Medic 4, Park 92 and 883 all acknowledged within the first two minutes, with Hillcrest 9 following shortly after.

By 6:40 PM a crew reported CPR could not begin right away because the man was still seated in a chair and the aide on scene was unable to get him out of it.

Boston · Zimmerman Road

Two-Car Crash Snaps Utility Pole, Hip Injury Reported in Boston

Yesterday at 5:40 PM, Hamburg Fire dispatch sent Patchen's engine and Boston's ambulance squad to Zimmerman Road and South Feddick Road[*] [heard: South Vedick], reporting a two-car crash with unknown injuries; Eden and a second Patchen unit followed shortly after.

On scene, a Boston crew reported two patients — one with a hip injury, the other out of the vehicle — and requested a second ambulance; the same unit reported a utility pole had snapped off nearby, prompting a call to NYSEG.

Attica · Exchange Street

Narcan Administered to Unresponsive Inmate at Attica Correctional

Yesterday just after 8:30 PM, Wyoming County Fire dispatch sent Medic 2 to Attica Correctional Facility at 639 Exchange Street for a 62-year-old inmate found unresponsive; one dose of Narcan had already been administered on scene before the call went out.

A backup crew, designated Blitz 4, followed after Medic 2 reported it was waiting on a crew bus.

Jamestown · Riverwalk

Units Search Jamestown Riverwalk After Woman Reports Taking Seizure Medication

Yesterday around 8:40 PM, Jamestown police dispatch began coordinating a search along the riverwalk after a caller — a young woman on the phone with the dispatcher — said she had taken about 6,000 milligrams of an anti-seizure medication roughly 30 minutes earlier; she was described as wearing a camel-colored zip-up hoodie and red leggings, and said she had no weapons.

Officers were walked toward her position near the Washington Street bridge and footbridge along the water through phone updates on her surroundings, and by 8:47 PM a unit reported she could see them after driving past her location.

Randolph · Larkin & Green

Deputies Check Village of Randolph After Resident Reports Rounds of Gunfire

Yesterday just before 10:46 PM, Cattaraugus County Sheriff's dispatch sent a deputy to check the area of Larkin and Green in the village of Randolph after a resident called to report hearing five gunshots about 20 minutes earlier, followed by two more rounds roughly five minutes after that; she said she had heard nothing further since.

A second unit was asked to back up the responding deputy on the call.

Sherman · Ramblin' Hill Road

Shop and Barn Fire in Sherman Draws Multi-Town Mutual Aid

Just after 5:15 AM, Chautauqua County Fire dispatch sent Sherman's Rescue 282 to a reported shop and barn fire at 8023 Ramblin' Hill Road[*] [heard: Ravlin Hill Road], with Panama and Finley Lake companies standing by to assist.

Within minutes dispatch upgraded the call to a confirmed structure fire, paging Panama's Engines 381, 382 and 383 and Finley Lake ambulance and tanker crews, and following up with a request for additional manpower and a mutual-aid tanker to the scene.