Firefighters watch home burn to ground...

[el ess A]

Originally Posted by Brokinarrow

While I understand the need of the community to have everyone pay the fee.... why send firefighters to the scene to watch the house burn? ... Anyway, what the heck do our taxes pay for if not these public services when we need them?

Read the story again. You seem to be overlooking the point. The firefighters were there to protect the guy that DID pay his $75. Can't blame them for that. And the city taxes that pays the fire fighters that are from the NEXT town.

I live in the country. I gladly pay my fire protection fee as it's fairly nominal. I also pay a private service to come haul my trash away. So why doesn't my neighbor complain that the trash service doesn't get his trash too, since he didn't buy the service but the trash truck drives by his house anyway? Same principle of what people are saying about firefighters standing around not providing a service they aren't getting paid to do. They weren't standing around for the guy. They were standing around ready to protect his NEIGHBOR who ponied up the fee. They did their job. Don't like it? Move to the city or pay the $75.

Why doesn't the insuance companies run the same way? If you don't buy gap insurance for your car if you need it, and have a wreck, why can't they be good Joe's and cover that too? You can pay them a little more after the fact and all will be good, right?

Sorry, you can't have it both ways. Pay or go up in flames. Choice is yours.

[2ndgenz28]

Originally Posted by Brokinarrow

That's why if anyone points a gun in my direction I shoot to kill Training kicks in.

The reason they lost in civil court is. They had forgot the motto, “To Protect and Serve.” There is no clause if you think they are guilty or not, you cannot pick and chose who you decide to protect and serve. Even when someone just tried to kill you. Once they are no longer a threat you must protect and serve. They forgot that and lost everything in civil court when they waived medical help off.

[VR Code R6P]

It's a pretty sad state this country is in, when firefighters are present and do nothing. I would have jumped in and helped!

Now if two houses were burning and only one homeowner had paid, by all means, take care of it first.

This story makes me ill. :(

[PQ]

Originally Posted by Brokinarrow

That's why if anyone points a gun in my direction I shoot to kill Training kicks in.

Originally Posted by 2ndgenz28

The reason they lost in civil court is. They had forgot the motto, “To Protect and Serve.” There is no clause if you think they are guilty or not, you cannot pick and chose who you decide to protect and serve. Even when someone just tried to kill you. Once they are no longer a threat you must protect and serve. They forgot that and lost everything in civil court when they waived medical help off.

And anyway, those guys were not just armed. But armor protected. Cops bullets just bouncing off.

That was crazy. Made me angry about the lawsuits. It has been years since I saw the story, and the last I heard was before the civil trials. I didn't know the rest.

Makes me angry as hell.

[el ess A]

I'm going to bet dime to donuts that they'll be collecting a LOT more of those $75 fees now that the freeloaders know they won't get stuff after the fact. The only reason they were even there was that someone else paid their fee. What if no one in the area paid the fee. Would you still be whining the fire department is the bad guy for not showing up at all?

Depending on the "contract" wording, the firefighters may be limited as to what services they could provide to out of towners from a legal standpoint. There is no moral obligation for another city to take care of people in another town on their own accord. Too many people think they're entitled for some reason. Gotta stop and put the burden of accountability more on the owners. The owner chose to gamble and lost and now everyone's trying to demonize the fire department. Which, is very wrong.

No more bailouts. Tuff titty.

[Jeremeymt]

I'd say they were setting an example by not putting out the fire. NO PAY NO SERVICE. As horrible as a situation as it is, I can't fault them for not putting out the fire. As horrible as it is, if you don't pay your mortgage they WILL kick you out. I'm thankful i live within the city limits and within 2 miles of a fire department, but even if I lived out in the boondocks you better believe I'm paying for fire protection!

[2ndgenz28]

OK I risk having man of you get pissed but I kinda find it odd how you see all the nice post in here

"Green Beret to Receive Medal of Honor for Saving 22 Lives in Afghanistan"
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109345


then look at the same folks who posted in this fire thread that think a firemen who stands n watches a fellow Americans house burn down over $75 was the right thing to do.

You honor those deserving with one hand, while you pat those on the back who aren’t deserving with the other.

I don't get it.

[Jay_LHD3]

@2ndgenz28

Not to offend you but, I don't get your LA or MOH connection to this situation.




And I don't think there is any reason for anyone to get pissed at you. We all have opinions!

[ColdCamaroSS]

Originally Posted by el ess X

I'm going to bet dime to donuts that they'll be collecting a LOT more of those $75 fees now that the freeloaders know they won't get stuff after the fact. The only reason they were even there was that someone else paid their fee. What if no one in the area paid the fee. Would you still be whining the fire department is the bad guy for not showing up at all?

Depending on the "contract" wording, the firefighters may be limited as to what services they could provide to out of towners from a legal standpoint. There is no moral obligation for another city to take care of people in another town on their own accord. Too many people think they're entitled for some reason. Gotta stop and put the burden of accountability more on the owners. The owner chose to gamble and lost and now everyone's trying to demonize the fire department. Which, is very wrong.

No more bailouts. Tuff titty.

Wow, I wasn't gonna get all preachy but I hope you don't call yourself a Christian (or anyone else agrees with the above post)

Now, I am far from being a perfect member of society along with my imperfections of being a Christian. Regardless of religion, YOU are exactly what is wrong with this country.

Maybe they (honestly) forgot the fee, maybe they had to put food on the table...and maybe they deliberately failed to pay. Who cares, this may have well been a test from God and even though the proper tools and resources existed to succeed in putting out the fire, this scenario failed due to GREED! and the mentality of folks like you. Damn right I said it.

Yeah, I can see Jesus doing the Christian thing, of letting a home burn down even WHEN there is an ability to put it out.

Again I'm not the most righteous man by any stretch but right is right and shit like this is really destroying America not $75 F-ing dollars!

[PQ]

Originally Posted by 2ndgenz28

OK I risk having man of you get pissed but I kinda find it odd how you see all the nice post in here

"Green Beret to Receive Medal of Honor for Saving 22 Lives in Afghanistan"
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109345


then look at the same folks who posted in this fire thread that think a firemen who stands n watches a fellow Americans house burn down over $75 was the right thing to do.

You honor those deserving with one hand, while you pat those on the back who aren’t deserving with the other.

I don't get it.

W.......T.......F........ are you talking about???



Your correlation or analagy escapes me...........

This story isn't about the firefighters. But the decision to not let them help.

[PQ]

Originally Posted by ColdCamaroSS

Wow, I wasn't gonna get all preachy but I hope you don't call yourself a Christian (or anyone else agrees with the above post)

Now, I am far from being a perfect member of society along with my imperfections of being a Christian. Regardless of religion, YOU are exactly what is wrong with this country.

Maybe they (honestly) forgot the fee, maybe they had to put food on the table...and maybe they deliberately failed to pay. Who cares, this may have well been a test from God and even though the proper tools and resources existed to succeed in putting out the fire, this scenario failed due to GREED! and the mentality of folks like you. Damn right I said it.

Yeah, I can see Jesus doing the Christian thing, of letting a home burn down even WHEN there is an ability to put it out.

Again I'm not the most righteous man by any stretch but right is right and shit like this is really destroying America not $75 F-ing dollars!


Let's take it a step further on the religious take on this. As far as I'm

If you want to get dogmatic aobut it, Christs church during the apostolic era was a socialist movement. (as defined by todays terms and if you aren't Christian)

I myself, am a Christian. I've studied my scriptures more than just in passing. To put a blanket Christianity take on this, won't work. It would well be within new covenant scripture to let the home burn.

My heart is too big to have made the right decision. Which is why I say I'd have made the decision to order my firefighters to help. BUT, for the good of the whole, it would have been the wrong order.

And I will not get into a scripture debate here.

[ColdCamaroSS]

Originally Posted by PQ

If you want to get dogmatic aobut it, Christs church during the apostolic era was a socialist movement. (as defined by todays terms and if you aren't Christian)

I myself, am a Christian. I've studied my scriptures more than just in passing. To put a blanket Christianity take on this, won't work. It would well be within new covenant scripture to let the home burn.

My heart is too big to have made the right decision. Which is why I say I'd have made the decision to order my firefighters to help. BUT, for the good of the whole, it would have been the wrong order.

And I will not get into a scripture debate here.

No Scipture debate, just right and wrong.
I applaud that you would have done the "right" thing. I understand the FF were under orders (and probably afraid of losing their jobs if helping).
Here's an analogy I think fits "If Only" by Paul Monahan


Having worked at 7-Eleven’ store for two years, I thought I had become successful at what our manager calls “customer relations”. I firmly believed that a friendly smile and an automatic “sir”, “ma’am”, and “thank you” would see me through any situation that might arise, from soothing impatient or unpleasant people to apologizing for giving out the wrong change. But the other night an old woman shattered my belief that a glib response could smooth over the rough spots of dealing with other human beings.
The moment she entered, the woman presented a sharp contrast to our shiny store with its bright lightening and neatly arranged shelves. Walking as if each step were painful, she slowly pushed open the glass door and hobbled down the neatest aisle. She coughed dryly, wheezing with each breath. On a forty-degree night, she was wearing only a faded print dress, a thin, light-beige sweater too small to button, and black vinyl slippers with the backs cut out to expose calloused heels. There were no stockings or socks on her splotchy, blue–veined legs.
After strolling around the store for several minutes, the old woman stopped in front of the rows of canned vegetables. She picked up some corn niblets and stared with a strange intensity at the label. At that point, I decided to be a good, courteous employee and asked her if she needed help. As I stood close to her, my smile became harder to maintain; her red-rimmed eyes were partially closed by yellowish crusts; her hands were covered with layer of grime, and the stale smell of sweat rose in a thick vaporous cloud from her clothes.
“I need some food,” she muttered in reply to my bright “Can I help you?”
“Are you looking for corn, ma’am?”
“I need food,” she repeated “Any kind.”
“Well, the corn is ninety-five cents,” I said in my most helpful voice, “Or, if you like, we have a special on bologna today.”
“I can’t pay,” she said.
For a second, I was tempted to say, “Take the corn.” But the employee rules flooded into my mind: Remain polite, but do not let customers get the best of you. Let them know that you are in control. For a moment, I even entertained the idea that this was some sort of test, and that this woman was someone from the head office, testing my loyalty. I responded dutifully, “I’m sorry, ma’am, but I can’t give away anything for free.”
The old woman’s face collapsed a bit more, if that were possible, and her hands trembled as she put the can back on the shelf. She shuffled past me toward the door, her torn and dirty clothing barely covering her bent back.
Moments after she left, I rushed out of the door with the can of corn, but she was nowhere in sight. For the rest of my shift, the image of the woman haunted me. I had been young, healthy, and smug. She had been old, sick, and desperate. Wishing with all my heart that I had acted like a human being rather than a robot, I was saddened to realize how fragile a hold we have on our better instinct.

Long but hits the point on the head.


,

[Mystic Blue]

I am married to a Fireman and heard about this the other day from him. And he and I are both in agreement that the firemen did the right thing in this case. Do you NOT pay your auto insurance and then cry to the insurance company to pay for your totalled car and medical expenses???

In small rural areas where Fire Services aren't covered by your city, county, or state taxes - you have to pay extra for these services. He was notified of the fee and he CHOSE not to pay it.

If there had been a life in danger in the burning house, I can assure you that there is no ruling or policy that would have kept the firemen from attempting a resuce. They preserve life abouve all else. But that wasn't the case here - it was mearly property.

Ya, he probably lost some precious items...
But I bet he had them insured in his home owners policy.

It was his CHOICE, and now he lives with it.

[Scrappy Doo]

A starving old woman has nothing to do with this story or debate at hand. And please keep the religion out of it.

Here are the FACTS that are not in dispute:
1. Homeowner lives in a county that has no fire protection.
2. Homeowner's county has agreement with nearby CITY to provide fire service for $75 a year.
3. Homeowner did not pay the fee
4. Homeowner's house starts on fire
5. Fire deparmtent responds to save neighbor's house who paid the fee.
6. The homeowner's fire is not tended too and he loses his house.

You could examine the "what ifs" all day long here.

here is one that no one has brought up yet..... "What if by the time the fire department arrived, the house was beyond saveable anyway?"

Stick to the facts to make the decision/or form your opinion.