Firefighters watch home burn to ground...

[Milk 1027]

Morals, Schmorals.
The guy didn't pay it is his fault and only his fault.


Let's change up the story a bit just hypothetically.

Let's say that while the firefighters were there protecting the neighbor's property, they decided to do the "moral" thing and put out the flames. While putting out the fire from the person who didn't pay the fee (let's keep in mind that they shouldn't be doing this) there is an explosion and 2 firefighters die because of it and others are injured. Then they have to get another truck to respond for backup, 3 ambulances have to be called in for medical support, and now the police have to get involved.

Who is wrong then?

[CamaroSkooter]

I don't know, but I want to see what that bill comes out to...

[Red Rocker]

Originally Posted by FFPM73

Being a Firefighter/Paramedic I know my department has to respond and fight any fire or treat any emergency no matter what the tax situation is. Granted I work for a large city so maybe that is a difference. My best friend works for a Township in Ohio and they rely on tax levies to get equip, personell, fire gear ect. If their levies don't pass every 5 years, layoffs and stations start to close which in turn could make tax payers wait longer for a fire truck or paramedic unit. But to show up and just watch it burn.....I think that is an ethical violation and that resident could sue that dept/city and win big bucks!!!!

I agree with everything you said. We have the township form of government here in Ohio and along with the individual levies, there are items in the county property tax assessment which cover some basic costs plus mutual aid.

The difference is that this was apparently rural Tennessee and anything goes there. Most southern states are like that. My family lives in FL and GA after relocating from here and they tell me that fire and EMT services suck compared to here. I'm surprised that his county taxes don't cover fire protection. If he wants to be mad, he should be taking issue with the state and county on how they fund protection services. I wonder if he has to pay $75 a year for police protection?

[Dr Jkel]

I wonder, just wonder, if it is like anything else when it comes to law enforcement, military etc...... If you watch something that is going on that you KNOW is wrong can you be held liable.

BTW where I live you don't have this worry, call the fire department they come and put the fire out, no questions asked. I know it for fact because it happened twice to my mother. First she set the field on fire burning leaves. She was told the next time she did that she would be charged, OK

The last time is when her house caught first, luckily she was ok and a neighbor saw the fire and called , she was in the shower and didn't even know it.

I think the fire department actually did more damage putting it out, but at least everyone was ok. She lives in the county. There is no such dues that I know of around here.

I guess everyone has good points, just hate to see it happen becuase everyone loses.

[Dave Coyle]

Sad to see the house burn down but he knew that he had to pay the $75 fee and choose not to!!! Now maybe he will rethink the $75 fee and just what $75 will get you!!!!

[rodscamaro]

You know whats crazy, I pay for fire department services which is 350.00 a year but some of my neighbors don't pay for the service. There excuses are mind bogling. Pay it and be done with it, it's just another bill. Remember are property taxes are less because there not taking the money out of our taxes to support the fire department. So the moral here is you pay for this service and it supports the fire department, you don't pay and everyone suffers and if something happens your SOL.

[PQ]

Originally Posted by MSG'

I have lived in many places in this country, and apparently this is the only place that charges extra to put out fires...this is what property taxes are for PMC, so its not broken when this community has to pay property taxes, get home owners insurance, then pay extra for fire protection? thats rediculous thats what property taxes are for!

Fair enough. But he had plenty of opportunity to take that up with the county before his fire occured.

Originally Posted by Milk 1027

Morals, Schmorals.
The guy didn't pay it is his fault and only his fault.


Let's change up the story a bit just hypothetically.

Let's say that while the firefighters were there protecting the neighbor's property, they decided to do the "moral" thing and put out the flames. While putting out the fire from the person who didn't pay the fee (let's keep in mind that they shouldn't be doing this) there is an explosion and 2 firefighters die because of it and others are injured. Then they have to get another truck to respond for backup, 3 ambulances have to be called in for medical support, and now the police have to get involved.

Who is wrong then?

Originally Posted by Red Rocker

I agree with everything you said. We have the township form of government here in Ohio and along with the individual levies, there are items in the county property tax assessment which cover some basic costs plus mutual aid.

The difference is that this was apparently rural Tennessee and anything goes there. Most southern states are like that. My family lives in FL and GA after relocating from here and they tell me that fire and EMT services suck compared to here. I'm surprised that his county taxes don't cover fire protection. If he wants to be mad, he should be taking issue with the state and county on how they fund protection services. I wonder if he has to pay $75 a year for police protection?

Part of my point of thievery.

You put the CITY taxpayers at fault if the department gets sued. You are using CITY taxpayer money for operation etc........

We don't pay taxes on an AS NEEDED basis. We pay them in advance.

In this case the county taxes DO NOT INCLUDE fire protection. Something I'll bet money has been voted on. And if not, it should have been. But that's a county residents responsibility becasue they KNOW they have no fire department. Somebody probably complained when a tax increas was proposed and was probably voted down.

Doesn't matter. It's nobody elses fault that you live where you do. Maybe the county doesn't have enough residency to area to justkfy or sustain a fire department. You take a risk for what you seek.

Originally Posted by Dr Jkel

I guess everyone has good points, just hate to see it happen becuase everyone loses.

Everyone except the taxpayers of the city in this case. They are still protected and still have the same level of protection.

[20Camaro11]

Originally Posted by Hemlawk

It's a good sameritain issue. You don't let someones $200k house burn down over $75.

They could easily charge the guy $5-$10k in expenses.

This is BULL S**T

+1

[Rogue Leader]

Originally Posted by MSG'

I have lived in many places in this country, and apparently this is the only place that charges extra to put out fires...this is what property taxes are for PMC, so its not broken when this community has to pay property taxes, get home owners insurance, then pay extra for fire protection? thats rediculous thats what property taxes are for!

Originally Posted by MSG'

skooter, I've already have had to call the fire department out to our street during a tornado, powerlines or lightning caught a tree on fire, and once again at my moms place I caught the yard on fire burning branches,wind caught some embers and it spread past my hoses reach, landed past where i wet the area down. only thing we are required to do is call a 1-800 number before we burn, fire department came and put the fire out, i wasnt fined or charged anything, both in the county, but it was a volunteer station

MSG you are not paying attention to a thing. Their property taxes DO NOT COVER FIRE PROTECTION That is why they pay a $75 fee. Just like in some places you have to pay for garbage pickup while others have it included, its a municipal service. They aren't charging extra, these people were never charged in the first place! Where you live is different but where this person lives he PAID NO FIRE TAXES!

Originally Posted by rodscamaro

You know whats crazy, I pay for fire department services which is 350.00 a year but some of my neighbors don't pay for the service. There excuses are mind bogling. Pay it and be done with it, it's just another bill. Remember are property taxes are less because there not taking the money out of our taxes to support the fire department. So the moral here is you pay for this service and it supports the fire department, you don't pay and everyone suffers and if something happens your SOL.

You know whats crazy as well, we do a fund drive yearly for extra money to supplement the fire tax. We don't ask people to give a ton (5-10 bucks is fine) but that few extra bucks helps us pay for things like fixing the leaky roof, getting a new lawnmower to maintain the property, etc. People whos houses we have saved have often been very generous with us, but in the same respect those who haven't had an encounter with the FD slam the door in our face, tell us to F-off, that they refuse to give us beer money. BTW we are all members of the same community and we volunteer, we do it for FREE!

Originally Posted by PQ

Part of my point of thievery.

You put the CITY taxpayers at fault if the department gets sued. You are using CITY taxpayer money for operation etc........

We don't pay taxes on an AS NEEDED basis. We pay them in advance.

In this case the county taxes DO NOT INCLUDE fire protection. Something I'll bet money has been voted on. And if not, it should have been. But that's a county residents responsibility becasue they KNOW they have no fire department. Somebody probably complained when a tax increas was proposed and was probably voted down.

Doesn't matter. It's nobody elses fault that you live where you do. Maybe the county doesn't have enough residency to area to justkfy or sustain a fire department. You take a risk for what you seek.

Everyone except the taxpayers of the city in this case. They are still protected and still have the same level of protection.

That does happen a lot, and very well could have happened in this place. The voters many years ago may have voted to dissolve the fire department because they figured they can get the service from the neighboring town at a cost of $75 per tax payer it may have been cheaper for everyone. They also consolidate departments as well. It does save people money, but consistently response times increase as manpower is stretched thinner, and the distance from a firehouse to a group of homes increases.

And you're right about tax paying... and a lot of people don't get that, there are probably not a lot of fires in that area, so paying for it on an as-needed-basis would result in under funded or bankrupt services.

[PQ]

Originally Posted by Rogue Leader

You know whats crazy as well, we do a fund drive yearly for extra money to supplement the fire tax. We don't ask people to give a ton (5-10 bucks is fine) but that few extra bucks helps us pay for things like fixing the leaky roof, getting a new lawnmower to maintain the property, etc. People whos houses we have saved have often been very generous with us, but in the same respect those who haven't had an encounter with the FD slam the door in our face, tell us to F-off, that they refuse to give us beer money. BTW we are all members of the same community and we volunteer, we do it for FREE!

I just hate it when they call me from Arizona for donations.
I'll help out my local guys thank you very much. lol



there are probably not a lot of fires in that area, so paying for it on an as-needed-basis would result in under funded or bankrupt services.

My point exactly. If they put dudes house out, LESS people pay in. Why pay in, when you can get it for free anyway? And deal with it IF you ever need it.

I wonder what the percentage of all homes that burn down. 1 out of how many?

[KeepItGreasey]

Originally Posted by Tallboy

I have absolutely no problem with this. Cheap ass guy didn't want to pony up a lousy $75 bucks? Burn baby, burn...

i thought that taxes paid for public services? why should anyone have to pay extra for any specific services? do you know how much money these fire fighters make? do you know how large their pensions are?

NOTE: not all fire fighters are exposed to 09/11/01 NYC type event.

[CamaroScotty]

Originally Posted by PQ

NO. Quite the opposite. The CITY TAXES pay for the fire department. The COUNTY HAS NO fire department.

The country is doomed with THAT way of thinking. One group should be FORCED to pay, while the other group keeps their money and gets the benefit.

You have me quoting something someone else said

[CamaroScotty]

Fire departments all around the country have been billing home owners insurances for "costs" associated to fighting a fire... Seems like a smart way to bring in funds to me....at least, better than a "fee".

[PQ]

Originally Posted by CamaroScotty

You have me quoting something someone else said

Oops. lol

Sorry.