Firefighters Let Home Burn to Ground

[WadeWilson]

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20...r-75-fee-again

SOUTH FULTON, Tenn. -- Firefighters stood by and watched a Tennessee house burn to the ground earlier this week because the homeowners didn't pay the annual subscription fee for fire service.

"You could look out my mom's trailer and see the trucks sitting at a distance," Vicky Bell, the homeowner, said.


For Bell, that sight was almost as disturbing as the fire itself.

"We just wished we could've gotten more out," she said.

It's the second time in two years firefighters in the area have watched a house burn because of unpaid fees. Last year, Gene Cranick of Obion County and his family lost all of their possessions in a house fire, along with three dogs and a cat, because the fire fee wasn't paid.

Related: No pay, no spray: Firefighters watch home burn

People in the city of South Fulton have fire protection, but those in the surrounding county do not unless they pay a $75 annual fee.

The city makes no exceptions.

"There's no way to go to every fire and be able to keep up the manpower, the equipment, and just the funding for the fire department," said South Fulton Mayor David Crocker.

Crocker said that by now, everyone should know about the city's fire policy.

"After the last situation, I would hope that everybody would be well aware of the rural fire fees, this time," he said.

In a nearby county, rural homeowners can purchase a $110 subscription to cover fires, but they can also pay on the spot for fire protection: $2,200 for the first two hours firefighters are on the scene and $1,100 for each additional hour, according to dailytimes.com.

Bell and her boyfriend said they were aware of the policy, but thought a fire would never happen to them.

The city has received a lot of criticism over its policy, but has refused to change it.

Please discuss. It's hard to feel sorry for the people when they were aware of the fee, but decided not to pay.

Should the firefighters have put it out anyway and then billed the couple or do you feel they were right in their actions?

[bhall82]

Originally Posted by Shardik2SS

It's hard to feel sorry for the people when they were aware of the fee, but decided not to pay.

THIS

[The Stig]

I'm a FF and no they should not have put the fire out. Because the person didn't pay the fee that means that the department won't get paid for working the fire not will the departments insurance cover them in the instance they get hurt.

[IROCanSS]

Gray area.... The fee is but in this case... there shouldn't be a fee.

[csjcsj]

I've never heard of a FF Fee before! Not something you have to do in Ga! Shouldn't tax dollars be paying the fees! And the FireFighters?

[GrnMchin]

This type of incident is really not new news. You get what you pay for. This is another similar event to the recent one, also in Tenn. happen over a year ago.
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...t=firefighters

[jdenotter]

Isn't this a repost? As stated above..

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

[WadeWilson]

Originally Posted by GrnMchin

This has been type incident is really not new news. You get what you pay for. This other all similar to this also in Tenn. happen over a year ago.
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...t=firefighters

I was well aware that something similar happened last year, but this is a new incident and wanted to hear people's thoughts. I'm sure there are new members who never knew about the old thread.

[GrnMchin]

Originally Posted by Shardik2SS

I was well aware that something similar happened last year, but this is a new incident and wanted to hear people's thoughts. I'm sure there are new members who never knew about the old thread.

My feeling and this doesn't reflect my Departments view. (New Social media policy). The people are stupid and need to figure it out if you don't pay you could lose your house.

[garcmol]

I pay my $50 every year to the volunteer fire dept., play bingo, support the turkey shoot and throw money to them to keep them rolling. If we didn't have them my homeowner's insurance would be doubled or maybe cancelled.

However, wtf did the truck even roll out for if they were going to just stand by and watch it burn? Kind of a big F U on their part. Guess the neighbor paid their fee and the fire fighters were there for flash over.

[SSOOCH]

FIRE, FIRE, FIRE!! (in my best Beavis voice)

[GrnMchin]

Originally Posted by garcmol

I pay my $50 every year to the volunteer fire dept., play bingo, support the turkey shoot and throw money to them to keep them rolling. If we didn't have them my homeowner's insurance would be doubled or maybe cancelled.

However, wtf did the truck even roll out for if they were going to just stand by and watch it burn? Kind of a big F U on their part. Guess the neighbor paid their fee and the fire fighters were there for flash over.

The most likely reason is to protect any exposures that do pay for service or possible life treats.

[Fightinfire921]

Originally Posted by garcmol

I pay my $50 every year to the volunteer fire dept., play bingo, support the turkey shoot and throw money to them to keep them rolling. If we didn't have them my homeowner's insurance would be doubled or maybe cancelled.

However, wtf did the truck even roll out for if they were going to just stand by and watch it burn? Kind of a big F U on their part. Guess the neighbor paid their fee and the fire fighters were there for flash over.

To protect the paid exposures if the fire spread.

[WadeWilson]

Originally Posted by GrnMchin

My feeling and this doesn't reflect my Departments view. (New Social media policy). The people are stupid and need to figure it out if you don't pay you could lose your house.

I agree 100% especially since they admitted to knowing about the fee, but felt that a fire would never happen to them.