Series of events keep Pierpont firefighters busy

By STACY MILLBERG - Staff Writer - smillberg@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

April 20, 2008 12:51 am

— PIERPONT TOWNSHIP — A neighborhood feud could be the cause of a fire on State Line Road Saturday afternoon, that forced Pierpont firefighters to leave the scene of a farming accident.
Pierpont firefighters were called to 1691 Pymatuning Lake Road after a tractor rolled off of a cliff, injuring the driver, said Pierpont Fire Chief Randy Woodard. The individual was trapped under the piece of equipment and lost consciousness, said Kelly VanNorman, Pymatuning Ambulance Service paramedic.
VanNorman said a bystander was able to free the victim from the tractor and he was able to crawl to the driveway. He sustained injuries to his legs and was transported to St. Joseph Health Center in Andover where a medical helicopter transported him to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown.
The victim did not appear to have life-threatening injuries and was flown out as a precaution, VanNorman said.
Pierpont firefighters had just arrived on the scene of the accident when they were dispatched to State Line Road for a fire and explosion. Arson is suspected in the fire.
“We haven’t talked with the owner of the two properties yet,” he said. “We don’t know if they are fighting or feuding.”
Monroe Township Fire Department, Linesville, Pa. Fire Department, Conneautville, Pa. Fire Department and Springboro, Pa. Fire Department provided mutual aid to Pierpont. The fire started on some tires and basically caused a chain reaction, ultimately reaching a shed, Woodard said.
“It was a tire fire that escalated into a grass fire and then burned the shed,” he said. “There were some propane tanks involved. That’s what caused the explosion.”
Monroe firefighters ran into a little trouble as they were responding to the call when a car allegedly would not move over to let them pass, Woodard said.
“The guy wouldn’t get out of the road,” he said. “They either had to pick the ditch or the car.”
The front bumper of one of the department’s engines sustained damage when it went into the ditch. One firefighter was transported to UH Conneaut Medical Center with a possible broken arm, Woodard said.
Sgt. Jared Sutton, of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Saybrook post, said the engine lost control and traveled off the right side of the road and into the ditch.
No further information was available Saturday night.