On Aug. 4, a house fire occurred in Penn Township’s Meadow Wood Plan off Rowe Road (“Girl, dog rescued from fire at Penn Township home,” Aug. 4, TribLive). Firefighters were called and responded in seven minutes. Due to the closure of Rowe Road from Route 130 and the alternate route being blocked by a parked vehicle, a delay was caused in their response time. The fire truck had to back up five times to clear the parked vehicle, thus adding response time.
Fortunately, there were no human casualties in this instance. But a family lost their home, and their young daughter was hospitalized in the ICU.
Conversations about how to stop this from happening again have surfaced in the neighborhoods, commissioners meetings and the media. Obviously, something has to change. Those who feel parking is inconvenient need to have witnessed a 12-year-old girl being carried from her burning home unconscious.
Parking decisions need to be made by the township. There is an undeveloped alley owned by the township behind Rowe Road properties. Opening the alley provides a perfect solution for accessing rear yard parking spaces.
This time, it was an accident; next time, it may be a tragedy.
Sue Teems
Penn Township, Westmoreland County