Firefighters extinguish burning cross in Rowes Run
Volunteer firefighters responding to a reported brush fire in the Rowes Run area of Redstone Township got a shock early Sunday when they found a large burning cross near the Rowes Run Honor Roll instead.
Rich Lenk, chief of the Grindstone Volunteer Fire Department, said that he and fellow firefighters responded to the reported brush fire around midnight.
When they arrived, Lenk said they found a 12-foot by 8-foot cross burning in a gravel area across the road from the honor roll.
He said that it was clearly a cross and had been constructed from 2 by 4 lumber that was then bolted together.
Lenk, who said his crew has seen plenty of bizarre things over the years, including several hanged and burned dogs in the same area a few years ago, was still taken aback when they first arrived.
“We see a lot of crazy stuff over there,” Lenk said. “It wouldn’t surprise us if anything happened, but we didn’t expect it.”
Lenk said he called Redstone Township police and state police in Belle Vernon regarding the incident. He said that police were unable to respond immediately because of other calls.
Lenk said firefighters then extinguished the blaze before leaving the scene.
State police did not have any additional information regarding their investigation the burning cross Tuesday.