[el ess A]

Paying before services rendered is all this guy would have had to do. Heck, nearly everyone does it when buying gas for the car if paying cash, right? Why isn't that such a horrible crime? No cash, no gas. Pretty simple concept.

I don't pay my home or car insurance after the fact. I pay in to cover the RISK in the event I do have an insured problem. And if I CHOOSE not to pay it, then ~I~ assume all the risk of ensuring I have the means to put the fire out.

I feel no sorrow for the guy if he did indeed know about the $75 in advance. And the story layout seems to suggest that. Sucks to be him.

And this moral obligation stuff is bunk when it comes to protecting a structure that you haven't paid for protection. It's protocol. I'm sure they would have done something to at least save someone if they were trapped in the home. Not doing so over $75 would be a crime. But comparing it to ambulatory services where human life is a concern, that's a completely different level.

One lesson learned I can tell you, this putz will pay that $75 everytime in the future I imagine. And if you're in the same boat of having to pay for fire protection like this....learn from this guy's mistake. Is your home worth an extra $75 per year for fire department services?