Potter McKean County Community Source | 04/13/21

APRIL

13 2021

Crossing the finish line: Oswayo Valley officially debuts new track

Photo by Jay Bradish Two crews of the District 15 Wildfire Crew were dispatched to Warren County to assist in extinguishing multiple wildfires burning Thursday afternoon. Six members of one crew shown are from the Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department. Shown (l-r) are Assistant Chief Tim Burkhouse, Assistant Chief Bob Eliason, Jim Maze, Mike Maze, Chad Miller and Chief Dan Burkhouse. The District 15 Crew was dispatched on Monday afternoon to assist on a wildfire at Cross Forks in southern Potter County. Lafayette Township Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to Bradford Regional Airport to fill air tankers with water that were being used for water drops on fires in Warren County.

Wildfire danger elevated in region BY JOELLEN WANKEL The weather is warm and this time of year is prime for wildfires. Currently, a burn ban has not been issued for the area. In fact, at this time there are no burn bans anywhere in Pennsylvania. However, as local fire departments will tell you, that does not mean the risk is not present, as multiple wildfires have been fought already in 2021. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is maintaining two maps, with daily updates: a map for ob-

served wildfire danger and also one for the wildfire danger forecast. As of Wednesday, McKean and Elk counties were at moderate risk of wildfire, while Potter and Cameron counties are at high risk. In regard to the wildfire forecast, McKean, Elk and Cameron counties were at moderate risk for fire danger, while Potter County is at low risk as of Thursday. Those maps can be accessed by visiting https:// www.dcnr.pa.gov/Communities/Wildfire/Pages/ default.aspx and choosing

the PDF for “Observed Wildfire Danger” or “Wildfire Danger Forecast.” As the danger of wildfire typically continues into May and will increase again in autumn, particularly in October and November, it is important to remember that there is one specific cause in Pennsylvania for wildfires — 99% are caused by people. Conditions at this time of year are prime for wildfires, as grass and leaves tend to be dry, the weather includes low humidity and bare trees mean sunlight reaches the

forest floor to further dry the ground. Strong winds also contribute to the dry conditions and provide plenty of fuel, ready to combust with a spark. According to the DCNR, “Firefighters call the area where homes and development meet and intermingle with undeveloped forests the ‘wildland-urban interface.’ More than half of all wildfire ignitions in Pennsylvania occur within the wildland-urban interface.” These fires can be caused

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Photo provided A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place prior to Tuesday’s Oswayo Valley-Port Allegany track meet on OV’s new track. From left to right: Brenda West, representing the Oswayo Valley Education Foundation and the Norton Trust. Mike Filer, representing the T.R.A.C.K. organization. Jed Hamberger, current superintendent of the Oswayo Valley School District and Mark Schlosser, principal of the Oswayo Valley School District. The two ribbon holders were Shayden Mesler and Charlotte Austin Keech. BY PATRICK KOTNIK SHINGLEHOUSE — When the ceremonial ribbon was cut prior to the first track and field meet at Oswayo Valley’s new surface on Tuesday, Bruce Kemp and the rest of the Shinglehouse community couldn’t help but feel gratitude. OV’s home-opener against Port Allegany was the culmination of a long and grueling process that began in 2007 and ended with the small District 9 community coming together to accomplish something that, at one time, seemed far-fetched.

“It was just real festive,” Kemp said, regarding the atmosphere during Tuesday’s meet. “People were happy to be able to check it off and be like, ‘Hey, it’s done,’ because I think a lot of us never thought it was going to happen.” Kemp said the process began over a decade ago when some of the school’s track athletes, who were helping with a fundraiser and competed at the PIAA state meet, asked if any of the money they were raising could be put towards a new track.

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