About a dozen years ago, Butler County emergency management officials issued a reminder about the importance of visible house numbers on all residences. The announced goal would be for all properties to have visible numbers, to help police and other emergency responders get to where they were needed as quickly as possible.

But not long after the announcement, the house numbers effort died, and today many properties in the city of Butler and elsewhere have nothing on them to identify the address.

People are needlessly putting themselves at risk, and that's both irresponsible and unfortunate — when the problem could be remedied with an expenditure of just a few dollars.

Fortunately, someone in the county has decided to get serious about pushing for proper property identification. Middlesex Township has announced a push aimed at getting all properties in compliance with the township ordinance requiring that property addresses be posted at the road if numbers on the house are not clearly visible from the road.

Sid Smith, township emergency management director, told the township supervisors last week that the fire company will mail residents a copy of the ordinance in question along with information on how to buy reflective house number signs from the fire company.

The signs, blue in color, will have the house number on both sides of the sign, either vertically or horizontally, depending on property owners' preference. The cost will be $10.

However, there's another option for property owners. They can make their own house number signs, but they must comply with the specifications stipulated in the ordinance.

The important thing is that all properties have their addresses clearly marked, and that the numbers are visible at night as well as during daylight hours.

When there is a medical emergency or crime under way, precious time can be lost if paramedics or police have to seek a number on a nearby home to help them find the location where help is needed.

In some instances, those important minutes can be the difference between saving or losing a life.

Why all property owners don't acknowledge the importance of their address being clearly visible is puzzling. And if they are aware of that importance but still do nothing about it, their inaction is even more puzzling — and irresponsible.

Middlesex Township manager Scot Fodi said the township's ordinance provides for up to a $1,000 fine for noncompliance. While it's doubtful that the township ever would seek such a substantial penality, the potential for a hefty fine should be an incentive for compliance.

Still, a penalty is not out of line with the importance of visible house numbers, especially in areas of property congestion such as Butler, where it's not uncommon for homes to be tucked behind others — or where some structures are numbered in a way that is inconsistent with the way a house or apartment structure faces.

It would seem that emergency personnel generally are familiar with most of the property numbering that applies to them. But assuming that that's the case clearly is shortsighted.

The numbering effort that was launched a dozen or so years ago should have continued vigorously. Officials were wrong in not continuing to pursue it.

Middlesex' current effort should be a reminder for all municipalities and county emergency management officials to get on board for a new, determined push for clearly marked addresses.

It's never too late to help emergency services do their job more efficiently.

Clearly visible house numbers make sense. Not having them makes no sense whatsoever.