LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A scheduled statewide tornado safety drill has been delayed for a day due to a winter storm that has caused problems and closed schools around Kentucky this week.The drill is being held as part of Severe Weather Awareness Month and is set for 10:07 a.m. EST Wednesday.Louisville emergency officials say the National Weather Service, the Kentucky Weather Preparedness Committee and the Kentucky Broadcasters Association will send a tornado test message that will activate weather radios and broadcast media. Louisville tornado sirens will also sound.Schools, businesses and residents are encouraged to participate in the statewide drill. IRVINE, Ky. (WKYT) - Road crews in Estill County have been running low on salt, and to make matters worse, they lost one of their six trucks Monday morning because of a fire.It only starts to show how bad the winter weather treated this part of Kentucky.We have not been able to fight this off, Estill County Judge-Executive Wallace Taylor said.Estill County road crews have been without salt, and theyve been running long hours to keep up. Now the countys equipment is starting to give out.If youre not using your equipment, its not going to break, but our guys are using the equipment and were doing the best we can at this point, Taylor said.His fleet of six trucks started out reduced to five, with a break line busted. Then the fight became real lopsided when another truck caught fire while plowing.Its an older truck, were looking at replacing that truck in the next couple of years. It just happened to catch on fire close to the fire department, Taylor said.The driver got away unharmed, and Taylor believes a fluid leak led to the flames. However, the fight to keep the roads is far from over.While the road department is faced with many challenges, another challenge theyre having to take on is theyve been without road salt for a while. Theyve been forced to use gravel for the time being. Firefighters in Anderson County braved the snow and ice while battling a house fire on Briarwood Drive Monday afternoon. However neighbors said the snow day, along with an act of kindness from a friend, played a big part in saving the home.Linda Mcelwain noticed the horrifying sight as she looked out her window expecting to see snow and ice. Huge black plumes of smoke, and it was just a fiery furnace when you looked through it was just red, really red where all of the rafters were, said Mcelwain.Her neighbors house was in flames, however she said because it was a snow day the mother and son living next door were home. Firefighters said the family noticed the smoke, then called 911.She was lucky to be there and to call as quickly as she did, said Mcelwain. It could have been a lot worse, so thank The Lord that it wasnt. Thankfully the pair made it out safely and escaped the cold in their car.The Anderson County Fire Department was left to face the Winter elements and a fiery mess.Trying to get good footing, dragging hose lines and ladders. Stuff like that with snow on the ground, that has ice underneath of it, makes it kind of tricky, said Chief Mike Barnes. The firefighters forged on and took refuge with hot chocolate and coffee .Still, driving to the fire was half the battle. Firefighters said slick icy roads made it tough for crews to get to the scene, however the cleared driveway made all the difference in fighting this fire.Fortunately the driveway was good and clear, said Barnes. Thats because Mcelwains husband plowed the steep driveway Monday morning. It was a small act of kindness that helped saved the day.According to the firefighters, they said it probably helped save the house because they could get there so quickly, said Mcelwain.Now in wake of tragedy neighbors are looking past the darkness to see the light. Nobody was hurt and they saved the main part, so theres always a silver lining it seems like, said Mcelwain.As of Monday night the firefighters said the cause of the fire was not clear, yet. However, they said they think it may have started from a mechanical issue with the heating and air system. BIG STONE GAP, Va. (WYMT/WJHL) - Five different departments, consisting of nearly 60 firefighters. have been called in to help battle a blaze at an auto parts store in downtown Big Stone Gap, Virginia.Big Stone Gap Police Chief Steve Hamm said firefighters were called to NAPA Auto Parts, 13 East 5th St., around 5 p.m. Monday.The multi-story building was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, he said. As of 6:15 p.m., the fire was still being fought and was contained to the NAPA building.Its a very old building with wood soaked floors and a lot of chemicals from the auto parts store, paints and paint thinners, said Tom Gibson, Asst. Fire Chief with Big Stone Gap Fire Department.Part of the NAPA store partially collapsed due to the blaze. Crews are now working to ensure adjacent building remain safe.Firefighters say one person was injured at the scene and rushed to the hospital. There is no word on that persons condition.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 11:20:49 +0000