89-year-old woman dies after train blocked emergency crews from responding to house fire

89-year-old woman dies after train blocked emergency crews from responding to house fire Firefighters’ response took more than seven minutes due to the Norfolk Southern train - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in An elderly woman in Ohio has died after a train blocked first responders from reaching her during a house fire, officials said. Marian Haefner, 89, died Sunday after a fire broke out at her home in Lockland, 12 miles north of Cincinnati. Firefighters were dispatched to the home on Patterson Avenue just after 9:30 a.m. However a Norfolk Southern train that was stopped on the tracks was blocking a railroad crossing, slowing firefighters’ response time, Lockland Fire Chief Doug Wehmeyer told WCPO. The train delayed Lockland firefighters’ response by about seven minutes, Wehmeyer said. According to the chief, it usually takes about 30 seconds to reach the address. During the delay, a fire unit from Reading, one town over, rushed to the home. Upon arrival, firefighters found smoke pouring from the home and forced the front door open. Inside, they found Haefner in a bedroom. She was taken to a hospital where she later died, Wehmeyer said. “One of my off-duty firefighters saw that train sitting there at 8 a.m., and an hour and a half later, it was still there. Why a train is allowed to block critical crossings in communities, affecting life safety, is beyond me,” Wehmeyer said. Officials in Lockland say blocked crossings have long been a problem in the community. “We’ve been complaining about this now for nine plus years and unfortunately now the ultimate sacrifice has been made because of it, a death of one of our residents and it’s unacceptable and this is not going away until we get a response from the federal government,” Lockland Mayor Mark Mason Sr. told WXIX. Officials say they have asked Norfolk Southern to call them and let them know when a train is stopped on the crossing but have been unsuccessful. “Maybe the simple thing right now is simply the railroad making a phone call to dispatch to let us know. I don’t think it’s too much ask, but we have not been too successful in doing that,” Wehmeyer said. Norfolk Southern said in a statement that it is trying to find a solution to congestion in the area. The Independent has contacted Norfolk Southern for more information. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments