PALESTINE, W.Va. (AP) - More than a week of worry over Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch quickly turned into a gleeful celebration with blaring sirens and fireworks as her family and friends rejoiced over her rescue in Iraq.

Lynch's family was told at about 6 p.m. Tuesday that the 19-year-old supply clerk with the 507th Maintenance Company had been rescued from an Iraqi hospital by American troops.

''I thought at first it was an April Fools joke,'' said her father, Greg Lynch Sr. ''I thought this was a cruel joke. I can put up with most things, but not that. They assured me, no, it's not a joke.''

As the news spread across one of West Virginia's smallest counties, more than 70 friends and relatives gathered at Greg and Deadra Lynch's two-story, wood-frame house in the farming community of Palestine to show their support and share in the celebration for their daughter.

''You would not believe the joys, cries, bawling, hugging, screaming, carrying on,'' said Pam Nicolais, a cousin of Lynch. ''You just have to be here.''

Several miles away, in the county seat of Elizabeth, residents threw their own celebration. An impromptu parade of cars and fire trucks wound through the town as people milled along the sidewalks and set off firecrackers.

We're just a small community and we really rally around each other,'' said cousin Terri Edwards.

A friend of Lynch's, Jessica Lowe, said that when she heard the news, ''I was shaking I was so happy. I started to cry. They were tears of joy.''

Central Command officials in Qatar, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Lynch was rescued from an Iraqi hospital.

''We haven't got any official word since,'' her father said. ''That's what I was hoping for.

''We don't know if she was hurt or not. They said they would call back as soon as they checked her out. And they haven't done that yet. It's another waiting game.''

Last week, Greg Lynch said he expected that his daughter would be found and would return home to pursue her dream of becoming a kindergarten teacher. Lynch joined the Army out of high school to earn enough money to attend college.

Lynch was among the soldiers of the 507th Maintenance who were ambushed March 23 near Nasiriyah, a major crossing point over the Euphrates River northwest of Basra. Five members of the 507th were shown on Iraqi television as prisoners being questioned, but Lynch was not one of those pictured.

''I'm glad it's over,'' her father said, ''but I wish the other ones were with her. We need to hear some word about them.''

The family is scheduled to hold a news conference Wednesday, said Randy Coleman, a spokesman for the state Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.

''Everybody was really worried, normal concerns and everything like that. But we all remained hopeful and knew she would be home,'' said another of Lynch's cousins, Sherri McFee.

''It just shows that miracles can happen,'' said Gov. Bob Wise, who promised ''one of the greatest homecomings this state has ever seen.''

U.S. troops rescued Lynch near the area where her unit was ambushed, said Jean Offutt, a spokeswoman for Fort Bliss, Texas, where the 507th is based. Offutt said she did not know whether Lynch had been wounded or when she would return to the United States.

Lynch had been listed as missing in action but was identified by the Pentagon on Tuesday as a prisoner of war. She was not among the seven U.S. soldiers - including the five from the 507th shown on television - formally listed as prisoners of war.

Relatives of several other missing and captured members of the 507th said Tuesday night they had received no news, but some said Lynch's rescue renewed their optimism.

''It gives me hope,'' said Jack Dowdy, father of missing Master Sgt. Robert J. Dowdy, 38, of Cleveland. ''I'm just sitting here hoping if they find one maybe they will find some more.''

''I'm hoping they found some other news too, and that maybe she knows something,'' said Janie Kiehl, mother of missing Spc. James Kiehl, 22.

Lynch's rescue relieved Palestine, about 70 miles north of Charleston, and the entire state.

''God watched over Jessica and her family. All West Virginians are rejoicing,'' said Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. ''This is a testament to the amazing skill and courage of our military.''

Lynch is known for her smile and her laugh. Friends and family call her Jessi. She's ''every mother's dream of a teenager daughter,'' said Lorene Cumbridge, another cousin.

''She's just a West Virginia country girl. Warm-hearted. Outgoing,'' said Cumbridge, 62.

Her older brother, Gregory, is a member of the National Guard based in Fort Bragg, N.C.