Alleyway parking poses hazard for firefighters
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SENTINEL PHOTO - Two cars parked on West Penn Street in Shenandoah, despite a No Parking Anytime sign, keeping a fire truck at bay on May 18, 2019.
By Kaylee Lindenmuth
SHENANDOAH – Shenandoah’s alleyways are no parking zones in their entirety, though that doesn’t stop some residents from parking in them. Nor do the frequent No Parking Anytime signs or citations.
Today, a culinary incident on West Penn Street showed why the narrow borough streets are no parking zones, firefighters said.
As firefighters responded to the scene, first reported as a structure fire, responding apparatus used Gilbert and Catherine Streets to access the 400 block of Penn, where the reported fire was.
The Rescue Hook and Ladder telesqurt used Gilbert and pulled up out front, while the Phoenix engine attempted to use Catherine, and had to park at the corner, with Columbia’s engine behind it.
A Chevy SUV and sedan parked along the side of the road, in view of a no parking sign. While a car may be able to squeak by, a fire engine risks sideswiping the parked cars and damaging both, crews said. Though the incident this morning was minor, crews hope it shows how parking in alleyways can obstruct their response.
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