Firefighters Let Home Burn Over Unpaid Fee

[EternalEnigma21]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Did Buster and Saden switch accounts in this thread? Seriously I'm confused. :cheeky-sm

At the end of the day we're talking about a measly $75. They seriously let someone's house burn down over $75? As a society you've gotta just ask WTF are we doing?

What's next? Police not responding if you haven't paid a fee?

I grew up spending time in an area that had the same kind of rules. And there were no police. There was a county sherrif that would come if called but it took him an hour. There are still parts of this country that seem very much off the grid. So if no one pays the fee, the fire dept can't operate outside their typical set of parameters and everyone's house burns... Why assume the liability and risk endangering the lives of firefighters for someone who opts to assume the liability on their own by not paying the fee? If there are kids in the house its JUST as much the parent's responsibility to ensure the safety of THEIR OWN children by paying the fee that would protect them in this instance as it would be the firefighters to risk their lives to save them. Im not saying it would be right for them not to help, but let's not put the firemen on a cross and neglect the fact that ultimately the homeowner's home, property, and family is THEIR responsibility.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I don't see it as he's changing his story. He's saying, in my opinion, that he basically can't believe that even though he forgot they still wouldn't put out the fire.

See from that statement I don't think he forgot to make the payment. I think he decide sense they would come anyways why pay the fee and just pay them when or if something happens.

[Hog1]

The time to determine who should owe what, what law/rule has been violated, how to handle it going forward, etc is...AFTER we have helped our neighbors to save their pets, their belongings and their house. It is NOT while we watch their lives and those of their dogs and cat go up in flames.
There are times we are all faced with that we SHOULD go against the "grain" and do what is morally right in the face of the rules? It is indeed a shame the fire crew apparently did not feel that way as according to the article, they stood and watched it burn,
Effectively they traded much of these peoples lives for $75. They SHOULD be ashamed. If you can justify it.........wow

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by firstdown

So why should anyone ever pay the fee. The guy has changed his story from the clip below to forgetting.

"I thought they'd come out and put it out, even if you hadn't paid your $75, but I was wrong," the hapless homeowner told reporters.

This sounds like a person who thought why pay the fee if they will still respond to a fire. For the record I could not sit back and watch someone's house burn no matter what happened but I understand why they did.

Why is there a fee to begin with?

[MTK]

Hard to believe this is even a debate.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by Hog1

The time to determine who should owe what, what law/rule has been violated, how to handle it going forward, etc is...AFTER we have helped our neighbors to save their pets, their belongings and their house. It is NOT while we watch their lives and those of their dogs and cat go up in flames.
There are times we are all faced with that we SHOULD go against the "grain" and do what is morally right in the face of the rules? It is indeed a shame the fire crew apparently did not feel that way as according to the article, they stood and watched it burn,
Effectively they traded much of these peoples lives for $75. They SHOULD be ashamed. If you can justify it.........wow

Except that this man states he was fully aware of the choice he made in not paying the fee.

Again, I think it would be better with an OPT OUT clause, and an express and hefty fine if the fee is not paid either by neglect or, as this man tried to do, playing of the odds. So, if someone opts out in advance, then they know it's on them. If someone is playing the odds, then they know the consequence will be a very substantial fine, or levy on their assets. And hopefully most will do the responsible act and pay the fee upfront so that the assisting county can plan for the future.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

Why is there a fee to begin with?

The article explains, but basically the area he lived in doesn't provide fire department services, instead they contract with a neighboring county who charges each household a yearly $75 fee.

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

Except that this man states he was fully aware of the choice he made in not paying the fee.

Again, I think it would be better with an OPT OUT clause, and an express and hefty fine if the fee is not paid either by neglect or, as this man tried to do, playing of the odds. So, if someone opts out in advance, then they know it's on them. If someone is playing the odds, then they know the consequence will be a very substantial fine, or levy on their assets. And hopefully most will do the responsible act and pay the fee upfront so that the assisting county can plan for the future.

As I said, the time to debate this is........after
wow

[CRedskinsRule]

Well, it's nice to debate an individual case after the incident, but from a practical sense, that invites lawsuits, and financial insecurity for the neighboring county who is providing the service. Let's put it this way: Suppose another call comes in, in the county where everyone pays taxes for this fire department, and that house burns because a person who had purposely chosen to not pay the fee was being served. Is that fair. Or suppose, the bordering county, faced with a huge legal fees is forced to shut down service to the whole neighboring area, because their insurance deems it too risky. Is it fair that the whole group of people who had pay the service fee on time every year now loses coverage because the service is terminated?

These things don't happen in a vacuum, and while, yes it is a horrible outcome, it could have been prevented by the man paying the $75 he knew was the fee. Now that he took a gamble, and lost, the fire department is made out to be immoral, or unethical people and that is just as ridiculous.

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

The article explains, but basically the area he lived in doesn't provide fire department services, instead they contract with a neighboring county who charges each household a yearly $75 fee.

I know that much. The question is why is such a system even allowed to be put in place. Why put people in a situation where they could end up watching their house burn with a fire truck out in front? Why is there a fire department that can ignore a fire?

Police, emergency, and fire are basic necessities that everyone is entitled to. EMT's are required to help people in need that aren't even legally allowed to be in the US. Fire protection is not a capitalist free market product. You cannot argue about the refusal to pay a fire protection fee like it's a power bill. Fire's are dangerous. They can spread to neighboring homes, or worst yet turn into a wild fire that takes days and tons of manpower to put out.

You do not ignore a fire. You do not refuse to show up to a fire. You are putting everyone at risk when you do that. The South Fulton fire department got lucky that the fire only spread to the edge of the neighbors yard or field.

I realize that a lot of fire departments are underfunded, and I hate that. However standing in front of a fire is not the time to fight such battles or prove a point. As I alluded to before, if your end game is to get more funding then you're seriously putting future funding at risk by deciding not to put out a fire. Every person that takes at the very least an intro to business class understands the concept and importance of goodwill.

Professional practice goodwill, as the name implies, is associated with professional practices such as doctors, lawyers, CPAs, architects, engineers and other professional services. Unlike business goodwill, the professional practice goodwill has two components:

1. Practitioner goodwill

2. Practice goodwill

Practitioner goodwill relates to the skill and reputation of the individual professional practitioner.

Practice goodwill, much like the business goodwill, arises from the professional practice itself, its institutional reputation, location, track record and operating procedures that make it an effective service provider that can produce superior income.

[Dirtbag59]

More thoughts from a firefighter

Dan said...
Ok here guys - I am a trained firefighter in Lincoln, NE - from what I have experienced on a regular basis is that firefighters are trying their hardest to build new stations, hire more employees all around, and basically get more money from the budget committee. This incidence ya'll will not help people want to give us money - Charge the guy whatever - just put out the F@#$ing fire, it's what we were trained to do.... hey you're bored sure just stand there, while the rest of the country takes your insensitive act out on all the rest of us that would have put the fire out for sheer compassion

MCasler
Here's the phone number for the South Fulton Fire Department 1.731.479.0213 - give them a call to tell them what you think!
7:24 PM Oct 5th via web

ctholl46@hotmail.com said...
I was a homeowner in South Fulton, TN. This isn't the first fire that didnt get put out, it's one that made the news though. This has been going on for ever there. I remember when I first paid the $75.00 fee, the chief told me "I'll add you to the list". I also called 911 because the field caught fire across the street from me, a week later I recieved a bill for $500.00, they said because my phone number came up, they charged me. ANY 911 call from that town is $500.00, I disputed the charges and they waved the fee!!

[MTK]

I wonder if all the negative exposure was worth the $75 fee? In the business world sometimes whether a company is right or wrong, you do what makes the most business sense, even if it means taking a loss. I just can't wrap my head around the idea that letting a guy's home burn down along with his pets, was the right decision, under any circumstance.

[saden1]

South Fulton City is inside of Obion County. For an annual fee the city was willing to provide surrounding county area with fire protection. There are no multiple counties involved. You have a city and unincorporated county area. Simple.

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by saden1

South Fulton City is inside of Obion County. For an annual fee the city was willing to provide surrounding county area with fire protection. There are no multiple counties involved. You have a city and unincorporated county area. Simple.

Okay, seriously who hacked Saden's account?

[saden1]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

Okay, seriously who hacked Saden's account?

Nobody...people are butchering the integrity of the story and I just want to keep it straight.