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Bradford City Fire Chief Chris Angell has retired, and assistant chief Rich Zmuda is now in charge of the department. Although no official announcement was made, the fire department’s pension board met before last night’s City Council meeting and voted unanimously to award Angell his pension. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

UPDATE (Friday morning): The fire is being considered suspicious, and Agosti says they are still investigating. City Fire Department Assistant Chief Rich Zmuda tells WESB that firefighters and four state police fire marshals -- three from PA and one from NY -- left the scene of the South Avenue fire at about 9 p.m. The cause is still under investigation and he expects PSP Cpl. Greg Agosti to issue a news release either later tonight or tomorrow. The New York fire marshal was called in because he has a fire-investigating dog whose services were needed. More than 40 firefighters from the city, Bradford Township and Derrick City battled the blaze at 103 South Avenue, starting at about 7:45 a.m. Neighbors heard an explosion shortly before that. The fire spread to 105 South Avenue, where it melted the siding and did other damage. No one was hurt. We'll pass along more information when we get it.

UPDATE: Vapor build up in an old crude oil tank caused the tank to explode when it was being cut open this morning at Goodman’s Recycling on High Street, according to Bradford City Fire Department Assistant Chief Rich Zmuda and State Police Fire Marshal Greg Agosti. The injured person, 52-year-old Thomas Rounsville of Bradford, was treated at BRMC and then released. ~~~ One person was hurt when a tank exploded at Goodman’s Recycling on High Street at around 11:20 this morning. Bradford City Fire Department Assistant Chief Rich Zmuda tells WESB when they arrived a large tank was in the middle of the yard and it was apparent it had exploded. Injuries to the person involved were reported as minor, and he was taken to Bradford Regional Medical Center for treatment, but Zmuda said he couldn’t say anything else because of HIPPA regulations. Zmuda says a state fire marshal will be on the scene this afternoon and more information will be available late this afternoon. The explosion w...

The City of Bradford has an assistant fire chief for the first time in 20 years. Rich Zmuda was appointed to the post during tonight’s city council meeting. Prior to voting on the move Councilman Rhett Kennedy, who oversees the fire department, explained that the position has always been on the books, but hasn’t been filled since 1994. Kennedy said utilizing the position again will improve management of the fire department, although he said there's nothing wrong with the current management. He added that it will make the department even better. In other fire department matters, council approved an $11,270 payment to Witmer Public Safety Group for a thermal imaging camera and a $2,352 payment to Churchville Fire Equipment Corp. for fire hose and couplings. Fire Chief Chris Angell pointed out that the money for the purchases is part of a state grant. Also, council authorized a change order with Bob Cummins Construction for the Congress Street Streetscape Improvement Project. Dur...

Sutphen Corporation posted this picture of the City of Bradford Fire Department's new truck (along with some firefighters) this morning. This truck replaces the 1976 Ward La France truck that is obsolete. But if you'd like the Ward La France, you can bid on it. Minimum bid is $2,500. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947