Firemen ignore burning house over unpaid fee

[orangecrush]

Fine or not.. Firefighters are there to do two things.

 

1. Protecting someone's property from becoming even more damanged from fire

2. Saving the lives of those in and around burning property.

 

I realize that the people were out of their homes by the time the firefighters got thereif they hadn't been? Would they have just stood by and watched it burn and let the people inside die?

 

There will probably be a lawsuit no doubt. I can clearly see even if they had homeowners insurance that they would not cover the cost of the house/belongings etc because the homeowners were negligant in not paying the towns "fee" i'm sorry but there should not be a "fee" for basic services like polie/fire safety.

 

Those firefighters were there to do one thing:

 

1) Protect the property and people, who had paid the fee.

 

They were under no obligation to do anything else. A lawsuit for what?

 

You can't have a car accident and then buy insurance to cover the damages after it occurs, so why should this be any different?

 

I doubt anyone would be saying: "Oh my!!!! That Progressive agent just stood there after that uninsured motorist ran a stop sign and rear-ended that lady. He refused to sell the motorist insurance. He watched as the cops hauled him off in cuffs for being uninsured. The blue shirt!!!!"

 

 

ETA: There is always a fee for those services. It may be called "taxes" or "special assessment" or "bend over again and take it without lube charge", but there is always a fee.

Edited October 4, 2010 by orangecrush

[Snork Maiden]

I really need to know why my vacant lots, need to pay for emergency services. I mean, are the birds on the lots gonna call emergency services, when their kids fall out of their nests?

 

In case someone like me pulls up a truck, sets up tent, and plays house.. and then my dirtbike catches on fire or something. Squatters need help too, OC.

[orangecrush]

What would have happened if there was a small child trapped inside? Since people seem to like them for some reason...would they have done something then? And if they knew they hadn't paid the fee, why did they even come out? They would have looked a lot had they just not responded. Since they stood around, they just look like morons.

 

It is my understanding, that they did not come out until the homeowners who paid the fee called.

[Bad Doctor Frost]

What would have happened if there was a small child trapped inside? Since people seem to like them for some reason...would they have done something then? And if they knew they hadn't paid the fee, why did they even come out? They would have looked a lot had they just not responded. Since they stood around, they just look like morons.

 

It is my understanding, that they did not come out until the homeowners who paid the fee called.

 

Ah. Got it.

[Snork Maiden]

What would have happened if there was a small child trapped inside? Since people seem to like them for some reason...would they have done something then? And if they knew they hadn't paid the fee, why did they even come out? They would have looked a lot had they just not responded. Since they stood around, they just look like morons.

 

How are we supposed to know what woulda, coulda.. Call the fire dept and ask what happens to your small, trapped children if you don't wanna pay the fee, and let us know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

..I bet they tell you to pay the fee and not worry about it.

Edited October 4, 2010 by Snork Maiden

[orangecrush]

 

In case someone like me pulls up a truck, sets up tent, and plays house.. and then my dirtbike catches on fire or something. Squatters need help too, OC.

 

[orangecrush]

http://www.nwtntoday.com/news.php?viewStory=46801

 

“I have no problem with the way any of my people handled the situation. They did what they were supposed to do,” he said. “It’s a regrettable situation any time something like this happens.”

He said the South Fulton Fire Department did respond to a request to protect the property of the adjacent property owner, who is a member of the rural fire subscription service.

 

Vowell said county residents do not have guaranteed fire service since there is no countywide fire department to cover rural areas, but many municipalities offer rural fire coverage to residents in specified coverage areas for a nominal annual fee. South Fulton’s fee is $75.

However, Vowell said residents in those rural areas cannot be forced to pay the fee and it’s their decision whether to accept the coverage.

 

“We are a city fire department. We are responsible for the City of South Fulton and we offer a subscription (to rural residents). If they choose not to, we can’t make them,” he said.

 

He said Obion County government has been thoroughly studying rural fire protection and “has looked at it 100 different ways,” with details of a proposal still being worked out. Ironically, the matter began to be discussed seriously just over two years ago following a similar situation where South Fulton firefighters could not respond to a rural call.

 

 

South Fulton Mayor David Crocker said city officials don’t want to see anyone’s house burn, but he emphasized that South Fulton has a city fire department which is supported by city taxes in order to serve its residents — with a rural fire subscription service made available outside the city limits to county residents in the city’s designated rural coverage area.

“We’re very sorry their house burned,” he said.

[orangecrush]

Mr Cranick said: "I thought they'd come out and put it out, even if you hadn't paid your $75, but I was wrong."

 

Why would he think that? Seems like a lot to gamble.

 

I'd like more background info. Why didn't he pay? Was it late? Did he miss his renewal notice? Did he just decide he didn't feel like it? Could they not afford it?

 

I mean, if you decide to wing it, you can't be punching fire chiefs in the nose later on when stuff goes bad.

 

 

Vowell said people always think they will never be in a situation where they will need rural fire protection, but he said City of South Fulton personnel actually go above and beyond in trying to offer the service. He said the city mails out notices to customers in the specified rural coverage area, with coverage running from July 1 of one year to July 1 the next year.

At the end of the enrollment month of July, the city goes a step further and makes phone calls to rural residents who have not responded to the mail-out.

 

“These folks were called and notified,” Vowell said. “I want to make sure everybody has the opportunity to get it and be aware it’s available. It’s been there for 20 years, but it’s very important to follow up.”

Mayor Crocker added, “It’s my understanding with talking with the firefighters that these folks had received their bill and they had also contacted them by phone.”

Edited October 4, 2010 by orangecrush

[Bad Doctor Frost]

See, this is where I get a little miffed. If that department is funded through sales tax and stuff, they ARE paying for it. If they life just outside the town, they must shop there and therefor paying sales tax and stuff. Why is there a secondary fee? There are so many loopholes and areas of grey that the $75 fee seems like a petty risk for the FD. I dunno

[orangecrush]

See, this is where I get a little miffed. If that department is funded through sales tax and stuff, they ARE paying for it. If they life just outside the town, they must shop there and therefor paying sales tax and stuff. Why is there a secondary fee? There are so many loopholes and areas of grey that the $75 fee seems like a petty risk for the FD. I dunno

 

 

I shop in Georgia and pay sales tax and stuff there, does that men the Atlanta fire department should come to Florida and put out my house fire?

 

They are not paying for anything. In general sales taxes go to the state, not local municipalities. The city residents pay a tax for their fire service. The county residents can get together and do that, or they can pay $75 to the city.

[Snork Maiden]

“These folks were called and notified,” Vowell said. “I want to make sure everybody has the opportunity to get it and be aware it’s available. It’s been there for 20 years, but it’s very important to follow up.”

Mayor Crocker added, “It’s my understanding with talking with the firefighters that these folks had received their bill and they had also contacted them by phone.”

 

Ah.

 

Frosty - it's a gamble for the fire department - but not the homeowners who didn't want to pay the $75?

 

If you disagree with the fee so much, you need to either make sure you're OK with your house burning down, or that you have means to put a fire out. And if you don't, you should probably pay it and then fight it, with your retail receipt, sales tax circled and highlighted.

[Labyrinthine]

 

 

There is a big difference between "risk management" and brown grass, and you know it OC. If they didn't want to pay their $75, fine. But it makes them irresponsible homeowners - particularly since the fire in their house put another house at risk - and their anger over the situation is misdirected.

 

Neither "risk management" nor brown grass, have anything to do with being able to be a homeowner, so there is no difference.

 

How does it make them irresponsible? Do their actions affect anyone else? The other home was not at really at risk, because they paid their fee.

 

Even if they are irresponsible, it has nothing to do with them being able to be homeowners. If they can pay their mortgage or own their house outright, then they should be homeowners. All of a sudden these random criteria have started popping up, regarding who should be able to own what.

 

I have a few of my own random criteria: If your kid hangs out in your yard, where other people can see them, you shouldn't be a homeowner. If your windows don't match, you shouldn't be a homeowner. If your kid is ugly, you shouldn't be a homeowner. If your Christmas lights are not done in a one or two color scheme, you should not be a homeowner. If the trees in your yard have squirrels, you should not be a homeowner.

 

So are you opposed to mandatory home owner's insurance?

 

And WTH do you mean the other house wasn't at risk? How is their house catching on fire not a risk? Sure, the fire department put it out, but come on now. I think I would be pretty pizzed off at my neighbors if MY house caught on fire because they were too negligent to pay the fire department to come put their fire out.

 

For what it is worth, I agree with all of your criteria. I don't like kids, mismatched windows, or squirrels...and Christmas lights drive me crazy, in general.

 

You're out of pocket, and you know it, OC.

 

 

Yeah. I am all sorts of pissy about fire assessment fees. They are hitting us with one here. It isn't voluntary and we are not rural. I think it should be opt-in. I have not had time to read up on everything, but I really need to know why my vacant lots, need to pay for emergency services. I mean, are the birds on the lots gonna call emergency services, when their kids fall out of their nests?

 

Ok. But you live in the city. This is rural. I would be pizzed about being charged a fee, too. I live in the city and taxes pay for my emergency services.

 

See, this is where I get a little miffed. If that department is funded through sales tax and stuff, they ARE paying for it. If they life just outside the town, they must shop there and therefor paying sales tax and stuff. Why is there a secondary fee? There are so many loopholes and areas of grey that the $75 fee seems like a petty risk for the FD. I dunno

 

Probably funded by property taxes.

Edited October 4, 2010 by Labyrinthine

[Bad Doctor Frost]

“These folks were called and notified,” Vowell said. “I want to make sure everybody has the opportunity to get it and be aware it’s available. It’s been there for 20 years, but it’s very important to follow up.”

Mayor Crocker added, “It’s my understanding with talking with the firefighters that these folks had received their bill and they had also contacted them by phone.”

 

Ah.

 

Frosty - it's a gamble for the fire department - but not the homeowners who didn't want to pay the $75?

 

If you disagree with the fee so much, you need to either make sure you're OK with your house burning down, or that you have means to put a fire out. And if you don't, you should probably pay it and then fight it, with your retail receipt, sales tax circled and highlighted.

 

I dunno. I guess we do things differently in the north. Essential things like fire, snow, and emergency service aren't an option. And they're just 'tarded for making it one.

[Jerseygirl500]

Often, those fees are included in the property taxes that the homeowner pays to the municipality. (We have a volunteer fire department). I am hard pressed to believe that they would not have rushed out there if someone was reported to be trapped the burning building.

 

Firefighting is a dangerous business where the firefighters often take risks with their own lives to preserve the property and lives of others. I would not expect a pay (non-volunteer) fire department to put the lives and safety of their firefighters at risk to extinguish a fire where there is no threat to human life, if they did not pay the fee.

 

I'm leaning toward agreeing with the fire department, although I do like the idea of extinguishing the fire and placing a lean against the property for the cost of labor, materials, etc. and a surcharge for not having subscribed to their services.

[orangecrush]

 

 

So are you opposed to mandatory home owner's insurance?

 

And WTH do you mean the other house wasn't at risk? How is their house catching on fire not a risk? Sure, the fire department put it out, but come on now. I think I would be pretty pizzed off at my neighbors if MY house caught on fire because they were too negligent to pay the fire department to come put their fire out.

 

For what it is worth, I agree with all of your criteria. I don't like kids, mismatched windows, or squirrels...and Christmas lights drive me crazy, in general.

 

 

 

Homeowners insurance is only mandatory, if you have a mortgage. So, yeah it should be mandatory to protect the mortgage holder.

 

The only thing that put the neighbor's home at risk was the fire. Unless the fools who did not pay the fee started the fire, then the only person who put them at risk was Mother Nature.

[Jerseygirl500]

Bad Doctor Frost, you are right. I would require them to pay the fee. It would not have been an option.

[Jerseygirl500]

Bad Doctor Frost, you are right. I would require them to pay the fee. It would not have been an option.

[Snork Maiden]

they're just 'tarded for making it one.

 

You've got a a giant sense of entitlement. So did the people with the burned house, apparently. Didn't do much for them.

[orangecrush]

 

 

I dunno. I guess we do things differently in the north. Essential things like fire, snow, and emergency service aren't an option. And they're just 'tarded for making it one.

 

You don't do a damn thing differently in the North. There are plenty of rural areas in the North that have special assessments and fees for certain services. It is fairly common all over the U.S. You are just 'tarded for claiming otherwise.

[blackberry74]

You get what you pay for. They paid for nothing and that's what they got, so what are they complaining about?

 

I did laugh about the son punching the fire chief in the snozz, though. That was funny.

[Bad Doctor Frost]

Special assessments yes, but those really aren't an option, now are they?

[Jen23514]

I dunno. I guess we do things differently in the north. Essential things like fire, snow, and emergency service aren't an option. And they're just 'tarded for making it one.

You don't do a damn thing differently in the North. There are plenty of rural areas in the North that have special assessments and fees for certain services. It is fairly common all over the U.S. You are just 'tarded for claiming otherwise.

 

this.

[orangecrush]

Special assessments yes, but those really aren't an option, now are they?

 

It depends...

[Bad Doctor Frost]

OC, yer housewife is showing...don't you have some Maury or The Doctors to watch?

[orangecrush]

OC, yer housewife is showing...don't you have some Maury or The Doctors to watch?

 

Turkey, I need you to pull the fragile strands of your sanity together and act like you know.