US

Firefighters Let Home Burn Because Owner Didn’t Pay $75

From WPSD-TV:

The homeowner, Gene Cranick, said he offered to pay whatever it would take for firefighters to put out the flames, but was told it was too late. They wouldn’t do anything to stop his house from burning.
Each year, Obion County residents must pay $75 if they want fire protection from the city of South Fulton. But the Cranicks did not pay.
The mayor said if homeowners don’t pay, they’re out of luck.

(via Hot Air)

Comments (649)

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  • spikebu
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 4:16am

    Lived 15 years in a county island in the middle of 2 cities. We were supposed to pay 350-400 dollars/year for fire. If you didn’t pay county fire, insurance wouldn’t cover your losses. Watched my neighbors house burn down because the county sent out an empty pumper truck (we had no hydrants at the time). We used our garden hoses to wet the roofs and yards of the neighboring houses while the county FD watched. Our neighbor hadn’t paid her dues. They watched while everything she owned went up in flames.

    Report Post »  
    • chasbronson
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 9:06am

      Who were your voted in public officials and why were they still there?People allow these idiots to continue to be in charge and either do not vote ,or vote them back in.There are districts in this country which are in terrible shape,but the people keep voting the same idiots back in.Not suprising though the incumbents are filthy rich ,and corrupt.Term limits and find out who is being put in.Don’t vote a fools ballot.Its tough though because we have to work for a living and these clowns are full time corruption engineers on our dollar.They beat us with our own stick.

      Report Post »  
  • Rubicon
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 3:53am

    Shame, shame, shame on those firefighters. My father was a firefighter, he was so proud to be one. He loved helping people, and that is the reason why most people become firefighters, they have a passion to help others. $75 due paid or not the firefighters that I know would do what ever it took to help that family. That’s called the Aloha Spirit! Sure didn’t look like those fireman had any passion whatsoever.

    Report Post »  
    • richard the lion-hearted
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:22pm

      Very well said ‘Rubicon’, many are missing the point of what a firefighter is supposed to be and not what the corrupt politicians deem they have to be. So many call them heroes and rightly so, those firefighters who let the house burn down are cowards, scared to lose their job over helping and possibly saving lives or fellow neighbor’s properties as well.

      Report Post » richard the lion-hearted  
  • Workforit
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 3:50am

    There’s NOTHING FREE in life. A hard lesson learned. I’ll bet they pay next time. Fire engines, equipment, man hours… all cost money. Why should this guy benefit when he didn’t pay his meager share. I don’t feel sorry for him one bit. He looks like a guy that had the 75 bucks, a job, or decent retirement income… Maybe he didn’t pay because he thought it was too much… I’m sure he is thinking again.

    Report Post »  
    • a guy in texas
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 3:55am

      “There’s NOTHING FREE in life.”

      How wrong you are, compassion and mercy are free and the best gift you can give anyone. If he didn’t pay the fee; fine, put out the fire and bill him for the labor of doing it. You just do not let it start to burn out of control until it hits areas the fire department is supposed to cover. It might be way too late to do anything about it at that point.

      Report Post » a guy in texas  
    • GeorgeWashingtonslept here
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 9:30am

      Workforit: You know,,,,,,,,,,,I’m a pretty right wing conservative, but your comment ” I don’t feel sorry for them one bit”, just makes me sick. What the hell DUDE?………….do you have any compassion for anyone? ……………The fire department could have handled the $75 dollar fee later,,,,,,,,not let the man’s house burn down now matter what kind of a person he may be. That comment might come to kick you in your ass some day. Karma can be hell…………

      Report Post »  
    • bolivar
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 9:38am

      You cannot man and equip a fire department with promises and hyperbole. Most towns and townships have moved to the fire district model. Everybody pays or they lose their house – tax sale. I have some empathy for this man but, he took the chance and he shot craps. Too bad, so sad, cry and weep. You people that think the firemen should have done this out of decency or a moral reason are never going to do well in business. Come on folks, get real – pay to play is the rule here and this guy didn’t want to pay……he cannot play – can’t have it both ways.

      By the way, I am a retired volunteer firefighter from a FIRE DISTRICT. We fought fires in all conditions and saved lives in all weather and kinds of situations. To denigrate these firefighters really is wrong. You should ask the homeowner why he didn’t pay the $75. This would be an interesting story but, no, you have to hammer the firefighter. By the way we were not union either. We loved our people and I will bet these firefighters hearts were breaking too….

      Report Post »  
    • QweeQwa
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 10:32am

      @george washington

      People like WORKFORIT is the new Right. Get used to it.

      They should have put out the fire and billed him. Human compassion dictates that is what they should have done and then bill him. People like the self proclaimed hard worker above are the problem, not the solution.

      Once again it needs to be pointed out that according to the interview at the time the 911 call was made it was not known if anybody was caught inside or not. People like the so called worker above would rather see a human being burn to death because of $75. This is the new Right. Absolutely no empathy for others.

      Firefighters?

      Yes, they blew it as well. I realize that it is unfashionable to bash a firefighter but those that shown up at the scene there are kitties.

      It is disgraceful.

      This man paid his taxes, and according to news reports is well known and respected in town….it should have never have happened…..get the $75 tomorrow.

      Report Post »  
    • untameable-kate
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 12:55pm

      QWEEQWA- didn’t someone just take you to task for lumping everybody together? Truth is, the man should have paid his bill and we would not be having this discussion at all. Also, compassion and christian values dictate that someone should have helped this man even if it was some neighbors with buckets and hoses.

      Report Post » Untameable-kate  
    • traze
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 1:09pm

      Why not just put out the fire and then bill the family for the firefighters time and materials. The $75 seems to be an insurance program the family choose not to buy. In any case, firefighters usually have a light work load in between fires and this would have cost the county very little extra money to provide the services that any rational local government would have provided.

      Report Post »  
    • RickWS
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 7:11pm

      If they would have saved his home NOBODY would pay their $75 next year. No money, no fire department!

      Report Post » RickWS  
  • a guy in texas
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 3:47am

    For those of mind to express their mind to the soulless, inhuman individuals involved in this, have fun with this info:

    South Fulton County Fire Department:

    Non-emergency Calls
    (731) 479-0213

    City Hall

    (731) 479-2151

    Fax
    (731) 479-2144

    Man Email Contact:

    sfcitymanager@ken-tennwireless.com (wow they should really hide this one better, wide open in the source of their contact form)

    Mayor David N Crocker
    518 Orchard Dr
    South Fulton, TN 38257-2460
    (731) 479-2152

    Report Post » a guy in texas  
    • 5
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 4:48pm

      He didn’t pay you loser Mooch. It’s $1.50 a week. He told them , I will pay whatever it cost.” It cost $75 BEFORE THE FIRE STARTS! Stop being a Loser and PAY YOUR DUE.

      Report Post »  
    • gadgeteer
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 9:57am

      Umm, maybe the proper place to unleash the virtual mob (does a virtual mob have virtual pitchforks and virtual torches?) would be the good “County Commissioner”s of Obion County?

      After all, these are the fine folks who appear to have decided not to do anything about consolidated firefighter support for unincorporated areas, which left it to the cities to do their own thing and work out how they were goiing to pay for it.

      Report Post » gadgeteer  
  • Svt4Him
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 3:38am

    I would have thought that the more important decision was made when the guy decided to save his 75 dollars. If you don’t want the service, then don’t complain when you get what you ask for.

    Report Post »  
  • 70 cutlass 442
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 3:07am

    Though this is an uncommon scenario, this is not an uncommon practice. There are “private” fire departments that operate as a business other then a government entity. This is no different then paying the culligan man money to deliver drinking water, or the cable company to bring you 200 channels of crap you will never watch… There are advantages and drawbacks to this type of system… mainly dealing with politics and funding. Im not sure if this particular fire department was one of these, but it sure sounds like it… I am a firefighter myself, and personally i feel there would be a moral obligation, but at the same time, if you run your department like a business, then this is what you are left with.

    Report Post »  
    • BeHeardAmerica
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 5:19am

      The fire in Obion County is the work of the government bureaucracy gone bad with too many rules.

      Report Post » BeHeardAmerica  
  • Gizzy
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:44am

    I don’t think I could remain in that town and feel like I was part of the community. We must watch out for our neighbors and their families well being as we would hope they would do for us. It would be kind of awkward if any of the firemen went to Church with the (previous) homeowners don’t you think??

    Report Post »  
  • amerbur
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:42am

    It is not their falt? They should have helped just as decent human beings. If the firemen, who I thought were heros in America cannot help a fellow human being in need what is wrong with America. Would you stand around an wach him burn because he made a bad decision and did not pay 75 dollars. This country is crazy. Where were the neghibors with thier buckets. What a stupid policy. What a stupid city policy.

    Report Post »  
  • windyluther
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:33am

    I live in the same county. I don’t agree with all the rules, but it’s just like insurance. It is put in the paper every year that county fire protection bills are due. The fire dept. sends out letters to remind the people, and then the ones that have not sent in their dues, they call.

    He said on the news report, “I didn’t send in my dues, I just figured they would come and put the fire out if I called, and then I would pay them.”. The news everyone is reading doesn’t tell that this has been in place for a very long time.

    He knew to send in his dues. That’s his fire insurance dues; of course you pay your dues. One of the things on your homeowners insurance is “how far away is the nearest fire hydrant?”. The insurance co. charges you more if you are to far away. In a way, it’s the same thing.

    The one thing I do disagree with is – If the homeowner doesn’t pay his dues, and the fire dept. comes out, then the homeowner should be charged a very large amount of money for them coming out. In a way he was gambling with his home. He decided to take the chance that his house would never burn, so he gambled by not paying the fire dues.

    The bad part is He Lost. I really do feel sorry for them.

    Report Post »  
  • DMD
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:30am

    The FD still works for the tax payers don’t they? $75 for what??? to cover the pension spiking that the slime ball FD and PD do?

    Don’t know what pension spiking is look it up. You will look differently at all police and fireman.

    Report Post »  
    • Brian Richard Allen
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 3:03am

      DMD gets it.

      Report Post »  
    • Serving Patriot
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 7:29am

      As a full-time police officer, non-union, I do work for the taxpayer. And most of us take that very serious. This story disgusts me. If you don’t want to serve your community, then find another line of work. The mayor and council of that town need to be booted and any public servant that puts $$ in front of doing their job should be fired.

      Report Post »  
  • Venom
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:28am

    I would have assaulted the firefighters too. At least let me use your equipment to put it out.

    Report Post » Venom  
  • Tuckie
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:23am

    I would have gladly lost my job to save that house…because its the right thing to do. What an awful thing to let that house burn down over $75. Makes me sick.

    Report Post »  
  • Hugh Akston II
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:07am

    Well the obvious solution is to Federalize the FD. A burning house would be change you could believe in.

    Report Post » Hugh Akston II  
    • Psychosis
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:40am

      oh ya cause the government does a bang up job with everything else……………your a freakin idiot

      Report Post » Psychosis  
    • BlueknightUSA
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 9:26pm

      uhh…I think he joking…I thought it was pretty good!

      Report Post » BlueknightUSA  
  • cheezwhiz
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:06am

    These are the kind of people who will be deciding our life and death matters when Obama-scare kicks in

    Report Post » cheezwhiz  
    • Iam amazed
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 10:05am

      You dumbass. Obamacare means I can finally go to the doctor. I pay for my own health insurance and if I get sick, without Obamacare, my insurance company could cancel my policy for just getting sick! Insurance companies have been making life and death decisions for years. All you Becksters are hate filled scaredy cat lunatics suffering from a severe case of cognitive dissonance.

      Report Post »  
    • Waiting4George
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 10:52am

      Yes, Iam Amazed, my increased rates will now cover you. Until I can no longer afford my policy. Then we both get to have government employees decide our worthiness for treatment. Just where do you fit in the Whole Lives Plan? If you have not looked at it I suggest you do. It seems that sick people, elderly people, handicapped people and fetuses do not contribute to the common good.

      Report Post »  
    • untameable-kate
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 12:20pm

      iamamazed —if you don’t know that you can go to the doctor even without insurance you are the dumb ass. I don’t have insurance and if I or my child need to go to the doc we go and, lo and behold, presto chango, I pay for it. Why don‘t you welfare wanna be’s suck it up, take responsibility for the decisions you have made in your lives and stop trying to pin the bill on everyone else in the country.

      Report Post » Untameable-kate  
    • baldwin4freedom
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 11:57pm

      @IAM AMAZED

      Take it easy!

      Health care is a mess and Obama is not going to fix it. The government has been part of the problem, with health care, as well as employer supplied insurance. When the consumer was taken out of the decision making equation this empowered the insurance companies and hospitals.

      There are many people on insurance who do not pay very much for their service that abuse it. They are acting just like those that do not pay anything at all. They go for every runny nose and belly ache, thus driving the costs of the service up.

      I will agree that nobody should be kicked off of an insurance plan, as long as they are paying their premiums. Simple regulations, and I mean one to two paragraphs on half a page, can take care of that. If they do not already exist.

      You need to look a little deeper into what the causes and affects of what sets the prices in a market, and understand the true nature of supply and demand.

      Report Post »  
    • JMJ6391
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 4:06am

      “I AM AMAZED”
      No one is stopping you now from going to the doctor. We still have that freedom of choice. At least for awhile yet.

      You just have to pay for their services like everyone else from whom you purchase a service.

      Health care is a service like any other and doctors and hospitals have to pay bills too. It is not a right, no more so than getting a new engine in a car. Sure a family may need that engine in a car to get to work but if you don‘t have the money for a mechanic then you don’t get your car fixed. Doctors need to support their families and pay bills too.

      For any one in an emergency situation there is always free medical care through any hospital through the Hill Burton Act. Any hospital getting federal money must treat people in an emergency situation who have no means to pay. Smaller doctor bills and non emergency bills, families should save for though. That is being a mature adult.

      I for one am grateful for the “greedy insurance companies” especially Blue Cross/Blue Shield who have made having cancer and other life threatening illnesses less stressful because they do pay the very high medical bills we have every year.

      So not all insurance companies drop their customers when they get ill. We have had many insurance companies over the years and non have dropped us due to these expensive treatments.

      Because I am disabled as is my adult daughter, I fear Obamacare bureaucrats will make decisions in the future though that will refuse to cover us for health care because we can’t contribute to the system now.

      I think I’d rather take my chances with the “greedy insurance companies”. Companies that I am grateful to say have made sure that I get the best care so my husband, daughter and I have many more years together.

      Report Post »  
  • mzmaj7
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:05am

    Sounds like this is a case of marginal privatization: just one example of why domestic and national security must be government responsibilities. Milton Friedman always maintained this (he threw pollution regulation into the mix as well).

    Report Post »  
    • Conservative Voice
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:46am

      Were the fire fighters employed by a private company? This is a factor of greed and lack of charity from the mayor and fire chief. The right thing to do is to put out the fire…on the county level if its too expensive for the city to come to your house…and it isn’t covered in the county taxes…then a volunteer fire department should be organized.

      Report Post » Conservative Voice  
    • JJ Coolay
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 3:07am

      Sounds to me like government (red tape crap) was the problem here and not a solution

      Report Post » JJ Coolay  
    • uneasyshadows
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 3:34am

      @conservative voice.

      Thank you for saying that. This is not a question about left and right it’s a question about right and wrong.

      Look, short of there being a pedophile/murderer in the house, I would put it out, because it is the right thing to do; the CHARITABLE thing to do.

      I am shocked that so many Beck supporters (of which I am a huge one) blatantly look past the charity factor, not to mention the right vs wrong factor.

      Report Post »  
  • parkranger
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:04am

    I would love to know how this works? In our city we have a fire district that is its own taxing district. They are collected with county taxes. As a former firefighter I could never stand by and let someone’s house burn down. This is just another example of a selfish society with no charity from community leaders, no hope for the people and little faith it will get better.

    Report Post »  
    • 70 cutlass 442
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 3:09am

      /\/\ agreed, but some departments (many in the southwest) have private departments which function as a business, this i think was one of them.

      Report Post »  
  • SilentReader
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:01am

    How crazy is that? So they let the house burn down, and maybe someone else’s house burn down, because they didn’t pay $75?

    Whoever is running that town needs their heads read. If these firefighters had put out the fire they would have gotten much more money because the people would have been so happy to have saved their house that they would have paid for their services, and paid from then on.

    Wow! You’ve got to wonder where their wits are, and just shake your head.

    Report Post » SilentReader  
  • RojBlake
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:00am

    Is that $75.00 after taxes & bailouts?

    I thought we ALL just paid the firefighters.

    Report Post » RojBlake  
    • parkranger
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:08am

      If we just paid the ALL the firefighters then I would like to see that on my spouse’s paycheck. Nope nothing extra here.

      Report Post »  
    • RojBlake
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 3:50am

      ParkRanger, you missed the point, the last 30+ billion dollar stimulus/bailout was supposed to keep firefighters, teahers, etc working…if your spouce is recieving a paycheck (according to the DC yoyo’s) then we ALL just made that paycheck possible.

      Just like the 1st stimulus was supposed to be for teahers, police, & firefighters…that’s how they spun it.

      These people were already paying taxes (one would assume), now if this town hires a private company & they recieve this payment & NO tax money then they were justified, if these firefighters walked away & do recive tax money then not only were they wrong, they might also be seen as putting the rest of the community at risk…fire do spread as I‘m sure you’re aware.

      Report Post » RojBlake  
  • cheezwhiz
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 1:56am

    What happens with the money that these homeowners pay as property taxes ? Sales taxes ?

    Report Post » cheezwhiz  
    • Down2TheC
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:40am

      They aren’t in the city that has the fire dept. That city should use their local taxes to provide coverage to neighboring unincorporated areas? That doesn’t sound right. They should have a billing policy for those that don’t pony up. Bill for the man-hours and consumable equipment. I’m sure that owner would have signed any contract they put in front of him. Everyone wins. FD gets utilized when there’s no in-town fires and the homeowner gets to keep his house.

      Report Post »  
    • GOTT-EM-MAUSER
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 11:30am

      This is the question that should be asked. I have lived “Out” in the county(s) most of my life. The very LAST thing that is done is to set up a Fire Dept. All these counties collect all manner of taxes for every cockamamee thing you can think of, but the Fire Dept is always “Volunteer” up to the very last. Bottom line is that Fire Protection is one of the few things that “Government” probably should handle, but they try not to, for as long as they can. We just got a New County Hospital that looses money hand over fist treating mostly Indigent Wet Backs for free, all taxpayer funded. All of it is just more Govermental Rope-A-Dope to keep as much of the taxpayer’s money as they can. Fire Departments are pretty hard to skim off of, not much room for making you and your “Buddies” rich, so that “Might” just have a little something to do with it.

      Report Post »  
  • ondrock
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 1:53am

    Does the term public servant not carry any meaning at all. It sounds like more union greed…if you don’t pad our already high salaries…we won’t do our jobs.
    Fire them all!
    Most small cities can be staffed by part time, paid call, or volunteers. I’m a former fireman by the way.

    Report Post » ondrock  
    • wingedwolf
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 8:06am

      WTF do we pay taxes for?? My husband and I always contribute to FF of our town, but times being what they are, I know people who don’t HAVE $75.00 extra, period. When it’s a choice between buying food for your kids and supporting the volunteer fire company, there isn’t any choice! Since our wonderful president took office, 4 factories have closed up here, which employed an overwhelming amount of this population. Smaller businesses like eateries, beauty shops, travel agencies and mechanics are closing up because few have jobs and are using those services. It really is that bad in some places. I can’t believe this happened. There will be a large lawsuit payout, I guess they’ll like that better.

      Report Post » wingedwolf  
  • joseph Fawcett
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 1:49am

    I do think that $75.00 is worth the firefighters. I am sorry to say I have to side with the Firefighters on this one. The owners should have paid. Plus the owners will get the insurance money. too bad for the owners.

    Report Post » joseph Fawcett  
    • BoilitDown
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 3:25am

      I‘ve heard of municipalities charging the victims of fires that don’t have insurance a fairly high price after the fact, but the fire departments did their best to put the fires out.

      What this fire department did was immoral and negligent in my eyes.

      Report Post »  
    • Bytor
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 6:15am

      Except that, in the end, I believe you will find that it will be the fire department that is going to pay in the long run. There are federal statutes that mandate that one cannot sit idly by and watch destruction of life or property without acting. Does not matter if they owed money or not. If the home owners are smart, they will employ a crafty lawyer and sue for a lot more than the house and belongings were worth, plus pain and suffering. Any jury watching videos and looking at pictures of this house burning while fire fighters did nothing, will gladly award big dollars to the victims.

      Stupid move.

      Report Post » Bytor  
    • Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 7:19am

      I’d side with the Firefighters IF there was an opportunity to compete with them. If the choice was to pay the 75 bucks to them or contract with someone else? Well, fine. But, you and I both know that if we bought a firetruck and offered private fire protection say for 50 dollars per household that the government would immediately intervent to prevent us from doing so.

      You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Governments love to act laissez-faire when they are the only game in town. Try to compete and see what happens. This is classic state extortion and not a free market choice by the residents.

      Report Post » Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve  
    • GnomeChomsky
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 7:47am

      We used to have private and competing fire companies and it didn’t work which is why we centralized it. Does anyone know if this is a paid dept or a volly? Because that would make a huge difference

      Report Post »  
    • Anarcho Capitalist
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 7:50am

      you said it ROTHBARD

      Report Post » Anarcho Capitalist  
    • Jabril
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 7:51am

      Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve,

      That is a really interesting point. I feel similarly about mail service for instance. I am wondering, how far would you be willing to go re: privatizing or opening up the market to government services? I can imagine that a lot of services could be provided better and more cheaply. I do get concerned when I see issues of military privatization. Black water et al seem like a dangerous direction as far as our armed services go.

      Report Post » Jabril  
    • NickyLouse
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 8:35am

      The firefighters where I used to live send a bill for every call made for them to appear whether it is a legitimate emergency or not. I thought I smelled gas one night and they sent the entire crew, engines, paramedics and everything to find out I was mistaken. Then, they sent me a bill for the whole affair.

      When I called the firehouse (not 911), I asked if they had a gas sniffer because I thought there might be a leak. I did not say that there was a definite leak. Nor did I ask them to send the entire brigade.

      Report Post » NickyLouse  
    • Beandawg
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 8:46pm

      This is union extortion!

      Report Post »  
  • MissCherryJones
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 1:47am

    I have never heard of such an asinine policy. What would‘ve happened if this happened at night and te homeowners couldn’t respond due to smoke inhalation? Would the fire department and mayor be OK with the deaths of a family because of $75?

    Report Post »  
    • shimmeringfalls
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 3:13am

      Yes, they would have been fine with it. Money is more important than life these days to these kinds of people.

      Report Post » WASALIBNOWIGOTIT  
    • Scaz
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 9:34am

      Yes, because your life is only worth $75 to them. That’s their Beer money, ya know.

      Report Post » Scaz  
    • Eagle07
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:26pm

      Ok miss how would the people here feel if I did the same thing with auto insurance.Wait till I hit someone than complain when the company didn’t let me get insurance to pay for damages?

      Report Post »  
  • sodun
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 1:47am

    A similar thing happened here in Missouri. A house one block out of the city limits burned to the ground because the fire dept had to come from a town 10 miles away even though a newly built city fire station was two BLOCKS away from the burning home.

    Report Post » sodun  
  • N37BU6
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 1:46am

    No soup for you!

    Report Post » N37BU6  
    • calmdown
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 6:06am

      Next!

      Report Post »  
    • 5
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 9:01am

      This is how you get people to pay the $75.

      Next, YOU PAY!

      Report Post »  
    • lainab
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 9:04am

      This reminds me of Fahrenheit 451 where firefighters‘ jobs are to burn down houses of those who don’t “behave” themselves–mostly by possessing censored books… but STILL!! THIS IS INSANITY!

      Report Post »  
    • TruthDarts
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 11:58am

      JUST to point out>>>these people don’t live in South Fulton incorporated township
      Sooo…THEY DON’T PAY TAXES TO THIS TOWN.
      But to not fight it when you show up anyway is just SENSELESS.

      QUESTIONS TO PONDER….
      Soooo…does your HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE CO. not have to pay to rebuild your house since you didn’t make the $75 payment for upkeep?

      Sooo…would the homeowner be charged by the local HUMANE SOCIETY laws with NEGLECT OF PETS since you did not pay the $75 to protect them & they died in fire?

      Sooo…would the FIREFIGHTERS also be charged by the HUMANE SOCIETY for the same offense?

      Sooo….IF a person was trapped & DIED in the fire…would homeowner & Firefighters be charged with manslaughter….or….FIRST DEGREE MURDER?

      Sooo…if the entire neighborhood caught fire would the FIREFIGHTERS have to call dispatch to see WHICH FIRE is WORTHY of the PREPAID $75 EFFORT to SAVE it?

      Have we come to scenes out of: ROBO COP or FERINHEIT 451?
      We now are not motivated by our intended function but some morphed private money grab?

      Oh yeah…I guess so….Obama is in the WHITEHOUSE.

      Report Post » TruthDarts  
  • cheezwhiz
    Posted on October 5, 2010 at 1:41am

    Moral of the story :

    If your house is on fire and you haven’t paid the dues and you want the FD to come save your house ,
    CALL 911 AND SPEAK IN SPANISH !

    cheezwhiz  
    • Whitehouse Mouse
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 1:58am

      The scary thing is, I’m starting to believe that had there been someone in that house, and these firefighters knew it, the results would have been the same. How far have they fallen since 9/11?

       
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:09am

      @ Whitehouse Mouse
      I’d like to listen to the 911 call and hear the dispatcher …what was the decision process that the dispatcher knew right away that firemen were NOT to be dispatched to that call

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
    • 911
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:53am

      I would have put it out anyways..

       
    • JJ Coolay
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 3:01am

      Cheezwhiz…. your first comment was spot on.

      Report Post » JJ Coolay  
    • JJ Coolay
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 3:03am

      So what does dispatch do when they get a call???? Look up in their data base as to whether the citizen paid thei $75 bill??
      What a freakin joke!

      JJ Coolay  
    • ME
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 4:58am

      for the government of the government by the government
      local, state and federal taxes just keep (rich angry white men) from going to jail for any other services you must pay. Revenge is a dish best severed on fire in this case.

      ME  
    • sgallion1
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 5:46am

      Excellent response. Quite frankly, the fire fighters must be progressives. I’d like to think anyone with a heart for his fellow man would put the fire out anyway. God’s watching guys. Hope you’re never in need of a friend.

       
    • BehindBlueEyes
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 6:20am

      I’ve personally know 5 firefighters in my life. None of them where the brightest bulbs in the circuit. Having said that, the idea of having a separate firefighting tax/fee is nuts. The costs of essential services should be included and paid in real estate taxes. As soon as you start separating essential services fees it invites this type of bureaucratic insanity.

      Report Post » BehindBlueEyes  
    • Libertarian Infidel
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 8:09am

      I do blame the firemen. “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”. I would have done the morally courageous thing and put the fire out, and deal with the Chief and mayor later. Plato said “It is a just person that disobeys an unjust law”. These men are responsible because they sat there and did nothing. What a shame to themselves and to fellow firemen. The public officials are even more disgraced, however. Help your fellow man.

      Libertarian Infidel  
    • QweeQwa
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 8:12am

      @whitehouse mouse

      You make a very good point. No one knew if anybody was in there or not. If there was, they would have died over $75–such a cheap value Christians put on a human beings life.

      In fact 2 dogs and a cat died in the blaze.

      The man paid his taxes.

      When he called 911 and found out he was not on the list, the long time resident said he would pay the small fee the next day. The authorities basically said, :Burn in Hell.”

      According to the interview he gave, no one knew for sure if anybody was in there or not. Jesus Christ people have we fallen so far that $75 is not worth a human life?

      Vote Democrat. The Right value the $$$ over life and the comments that you will read on this thread will be proof of that (watch the time stamp)

       
    • Huckabee Gingrich 12
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 8:28am

      This is nothing new.

      Huckabee Gingrich 12  
    • BeadGirl
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 8:34am

      First, QweeQwa, you make me sick.

      Second, Democrats want big government. GOVERNMENT was the entity that said the fire couldn’t be put out. GOVERNMENT is to blame for this, NOT Christians.

      Third, how pathetic is that to blame Christians for this in the first place.

      Fourth, don’t make me bring up abortion. You talk about $75 not being enough for a human life and how ‘Christians’ and ‘Republicans’ don’t value them, yet your party stands for something that doesn’t value human life. At all.

      Fifth, I‘m glad I’m not you.

       
    • GeorgeWashingtonslept here
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 8:36am

      Where’s Al Sharpton when you really need him? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

       
    • Tucsonan
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 8:49am

      Note to self… don’t ever live in Obion County! That is a total disgrace! If nothing else, they should have responded to the call and then billed him for the service if the $75 was really not paid. What does their county hospital do to people that don’t have insurance? I would hate to find out.

      Report Post »  
    • PlowMan
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 8:55am

      I am a volunteer fireman in a rural area and we used to have these areas where they do not pay taxes for fire service. We used to call them “no mans land”. What would happen is we would get the call to come and put out the fire. Then when it was all over the home owner’s insurance company would get a bill. That bill was quite high when you charge for twenty some men and several pieces of equipment. This did no last long however because the insurance companies made the property owners in those areas sign up to a fire district to pay taxes.

      Report Post » PlowMan  
    • successpull
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 8:59am

      Here is their mission statement right off their city website:
      Mission Statement

      “The mission of the South Fulton Fire Department is to protect the lives and property of its citizens, and provide good public relations through fire safety education to all businesses and schools.”

      Guess they didn’t mean it!

      Report Post »  
    • MolonLave
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 9:00am

      QweeQwa
      You are a fool.

      Report Post »  
    • maxstout
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 9:02am

      Si bueno esto quesowheez Viva Obama y NAFTA

       
    • mizflame98
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 9:14am

      While you all bash the firefighters, I‘ll have to let you know that I’m a former firefighter and my husband is currently a firefighter. With that said, these people knew that they were suppose to pay their annual fee and they didn’t. Now you all say the government should have bailed them out because their house is burning. It‘s no different than having to bail out someone that doesn’t pay their mortgage and their house is in foreclosure.
      BTW, if you knew the history of the fire service, it was created by Ben Franklin. The citizens of Philadelphia had to pay an annual fee for fire protection. With that fee they were able to display an emblem on their homes and businesses. If Franklin‘s fire department showed up and the building didn’t have that emblem, they were S.O.L.
      It’s called personal responsibility and limited government folks. The same thing you all have been arguing for. Now that you have seen it in action you have a problem with it.

      mizflame98  
    • retusmcsgt
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 9:19am

      whoa whoa whoa!!! As a 30+ year volunteer firefighter, I must respond. First, think of this in the terms of obamacare. Think about it, eventually, none of us would have to buy insurance until we need it……get sick, then scream about someone needing to take care of me because I didn’t take resonsibility. Do you recognize the similarity?
      Second, we had the same situation here in our Kansas county many years ago, the city said it was too expensive and risky to leave the city limits with the cities limited resources so if you lived in the county and wanted fire protection, we had to pay a $250.00 per year “insurance policy” or they wouldn’t respond. We had a choice to make just like these people did. They made a choice and it was the wrong one…….who’s fault is that? The question should be, why didn’t they pay the $75.00 fee? When we were faced with that situation, we the citizens banded together and talked to the county commission and started a rural fire district in the county. We recruited volunteers and the county provided trucks and training. We now respond to all fires in the county and taxes pay for the equipment. These people had an option to pay the fee……they gambled and lost. Don’t blame the firefighters for following the rules. Blame the homeowners for not paying the fee, they were the ones with the choice. Take responsibility.

       
    • tepartyblog.info
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 9:23am

      Why are so many of you on this mans side he made the choice of self-reliance. He gambled and lost. In an interview when asked he said that he thought they would come anyways.
      (”It doesn’t make sense,” she said. “Two or three years ago this house up here caught fire. My son lives there but they waived the fee.” Cranick said South Fulton firefighters had also previously helped people but sternly reminded them to pay the fee the next day.)http://www.kfvs12.com/Global/story.asp?S=13266558
      Apparently fire follows his son. First his house and now his fathers.

      These people wanted to leech off the other residents.

      whamhost.info WORKS FROM HOME  
    • J_Ruben_Kincaid
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 9:27am

      best post ever

      Report Post » J_Ruben_Kincaid  
    • PlowMan
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 9:35am

      MIZFLAME98, I understand what you are saying and I took the Firefighter II classes where they give the history of the service. That being said, we strive in a small comunity to help one another! Most of the time when we went into no mans land we got paid for the sevice by the insurance company. If there was no insurance then we were just out of luck. I just think a normal human would want to help. Just look at the video again, that lady was talking about having things that belonged to her great grandmother in that house. Back up a few seconds and the reporter said it started by a barrel and took two hours to get to the house. That, my friends, is a sad comentary on this fire department. These guys give the fire service a bad name!

      Report Post » PlowMan  
    • J2
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 9:37am

      Nothing new here in most of rural America ….you pay for a service or you get none….it’s not a right…How about have an accident & then pay for the Insurance…$75 to protect their house and they wouldn’t pay it till they needed it….Fascinating !

      Report Post »  
    • ME
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 9:48am

      mizflame98

      I can not wait till every pig in government work that is suppose to be a servant to your fellow man is jobless. That will be the only good thing that will come if the country is buried by there pensions and lavish benefits and retirement. Nazis SS guards where only doing there jobs and following orders. Your there to help people or get paid, you can not serve to masters, you will hate the one and love the other, clearly they hate the people and love the pay. Its just wrong period might be legal just like killing Jews in Germany was but was it right? If you work for the government that might be a hard decision.

      Report Post » ME  
    • QweeQwa
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 9:51am

      @beadgirl

      Have a problem sticking to the topic at hand dont you?

      What does abortion have to do with this, are you obtuse?

      The problem with Christians is that they do not practice what they preach,. A simple read through this site bears this out. All in post they claim to be so self righteous then spew their vitriol for all to see. I have no problem with Christianity, only with the self righteous Christians that usually fall under the fundamentalist Right.

      If only you people would extend your love affair of the fetus to actual living and breathing human beings you would not look like the sanctimonious hypocrites that you are.

       
    • AzDebi
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 10:04am

      Ditto!

      Report Post » AzDebi  
    • superfide
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 10:14am

      The firefighters are just doing their jobs, so don’t blame them. Blame the assenine gov’t policy.

      Report Post »  
    • beekeeper
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 10:18am

      WTF is this city doing? Did they outsource the fire department?

      Who made the fee ‘optional’?

      I can’t wait to hear the politicians defend the process that led to this type of protection…

      beekeeper  
    • A1955Rosie
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 10:21am

      I’ve listened to callers WATCH A FAMILY MEMBER die because they could not speak a word of english…IN THIS COUNTRY. yes your tax dollars go to a fund for interpretation and it was used but to late to benifit that family, and others. MORAL OF THE STORIES….IT’S AN INVESTMENT OF YOUR FUTURE or suffer the consequences. I can’t say that this agency had the right idea, they really should have automatically taxed the resident so they wouldn’t MAKE STUPID DECISIONS. However…YOU CAN’T FIX STUPID.

      Report Post » A1955Rosie  
    • BeadGirl
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 10:29am

      QueeQwa,

      “The problem with Christians is that they do not practice what they preach,. A simple read through this site bears this out. All in post they claim to be so self righteous then spew their vitriol for all to see. I have no problem with Christianity, only with the self righteous Christians that usually fall under the fundamentalist Right.”

      And since you know EVERY. SINGLE. CHRISTIAN in the United States you have the right to make the above comment, right? You can prove that every single Christian is a self-righteous fundamentalist who don‘t practice what they preach but love to ’spew vitriol’, right?

      Since I have the feeling you can’t, I‘m gonna take the same liberty as you do by saying that Democrats don’t give a fig about what the people want and are shoving their programs and ‘green initiatives’ down the people‘s throats when its clear that people don’t want it. I‘m gonna say that Democrats and Leftist Wackos are calling people racist because the opponents of this idiots have brains and don’t accept what is being shoved down their throats. Since Democrats don’t actually have a leg to stand on they figure that calling names will get their point across and MAKE PEOPLE believe them.

      After all, it worked for them on the elementary school playground.

      Oh wait…did I take TOO much liberty by saying that? As a ‘progressive’ and ‘modern’ America we aren’t entitled to too much liberty because that would mean I have more liberty than somebody else. Dang it…there I go again, just being free. That’s so not fair.

      Report Post »  
    • mizflame98
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 10:32am

      To Plowman:
      And to think that only $75 bucks would have saved her grandmother’s stuff. These people started the fire by their carelessness and then want firefighters to risk their lives when this family didn’t live up to their contract. Do you honestly think that anyone else would pay their $75 bucks if they let this family slide? Better yet, do you think that the fee would stay at $75 bucks if they continue to carry the looters? The rest of the neighbors would see a price increase to cover the cost of the non-payers. Why do you think hospitals charge $10 for a Tylenol? Because of those who have been treated but have not paid. This is a personal responsibility case and there is no guarantee that the insurance will pay for the fire service since it was started by a careless homeowner. In fact, the fire department shouldn’t have to rely on whether the homeowner has insurance and if they will pay a claim if they paid their $75 bucks. Chances are since they didn’t pay the fee, the insurance company will probably dismiss the claim.

      Report Post » mizflame98  
    • caitlynsdad
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 10:34am

      @Qweeqwa
      Aren’t you wanted back at Media Matters?

      Report Post » caitlynsdad  
    • QweeQwa
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 10:34am

      @911

      Me too and the hell with policy.

      Report Post »  
    • QweeQwa
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 10:37am

      @Molanlave

      Please elaborate.

      Thanks.

      Report Post »  
    • QweeQwa
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 10:42am

      @Superfide

      You say that the firefighters are only doing their jobs.

      You got to be kidding me!

      Lets see if I get this straight; the firefighters were only doing their job….by LETTING THE DAMN FIRE BURN AND SPREAD.

      Wow, you logic speaks volumes.

       
    • BeadGirl
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 10:45am

      QueeQwa,

      I realized you were talking about a certain segment of Christians; however, I was responding to your first reference about Christians. Yes, there are a bunch of self-righteous Christians that are like that. And I am sorry you feel that way. However, not everybody who feels the way they do against Democrats and what they push are that way. And that is what I’m (not very eloquently) getting at. As I Christian I don‘t like a label that doesn’t refer to me. Also, there are fundamentalist Christians who you never hear from either that don‘t hurtfully ’spew vitriol’. So, again, please don‘t label when you don’t have all the facts and have never met all in the group you’re talking to. Sorry to label something that may not be true.

      Report Post »  
    • independentvoteril
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 10:46am

      @QweeQwa…Would vote for 3rd party BEFORE a Democrat.. and that is after 30 years of being a Democrat.. NOW… MOST towns, cities, villages put the taxes (THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE) for the FD on your property taxes.. I am curious as to why this town did not do the same.. Like with your homeowners insurance you MUST have if you have a mortgage.. People were concerned about HUMANS in the burning buildings and YOU mention ANIMALS which I love my pets but I do beleive PEOPLE are more important.. I just find it a shame it happened.. and I wonder WHY he didn’t pay the $75..

      Report Post » independentvoteril  
    • QweeQwa
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 10:54am

      According to his interview he said he forgot. He added that he realized that people would wonder “How can you forget something like that”, and he went on to say that you would be surprised what some people forget.

      Report Post »  
    • mizflame98
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 10:55am

      To Me:
      Comparing this incident to the Holocaust is totally off base. These people are looters who chose to live out of the city limits to avoid paying city taxes that would have protected their home from fires AND refused to pay the optional annual fee for fire protection since they live in the county. The Jews were rounded up against their will and taken to concentration camps, used as slave labor, tortured, and slaughtered. The firefighters does no equate to the Nazi SS.

      Report Post » mizflame98  
    • caitlynsdad
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 10:59am

      @Beadgirl
      Are you Catholic? I ask because I’m Catholic (in RCIA, really), and your alias stood out to me, thinking that it might be a reference to the Rosary.

      Report Post » caitlynsdad  
    • QweeQwa
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 11:07am

      @beadgirl

      thank you for your response and even though I should know better I offer an apology to you. I probably went a little bit overboard in my reply to you and I am sorry but I cant help it this story just really bothers me. It is like society or whatever is turning into robots…it is only $75…put the damn fire out. You can always go back and out a lien on the mans home if he doesnt pay up but from what I can tell the dude looked like a very conservative old school kind of guy so the matter of him not keeping his word should not even be an issue. He would of paid. This is heartless and what is scary it is just a gimps of what will be the norm if the Righties ever get in power again. They did such a good job the last time didnt they?

      Report Post »  
    • Compete or Lose
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 11:09am

      …
      .
      .
      I bet this event helped dramatically improve the percentage of people that pay their $75 assessment for fire protection. To allow him to pay after the house is on fire would be like letting people buy healt insurance on their way to the hospital….OMG….

       
    • caitlynsdad
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 11:15am

      @Qweeqwa
      I have an irresistible urge to type your alias as “Queequeg,” since I recently reread _Moby Dick_. Lol.

      Anyway, we can both agree that the firefighters not putting out the fire was atrocious, unjustified, evil. Having said that, I’m a bit perplexed by your using it as an opportunity to attack Christians and Republicans. I‘m not sure how that’s relevant, and it seems that you‘re using this story as a springboard to an issue that’s more important to you.

      Report Post » caitlynsdad  
    • Wyatt
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 11:19am

      MIZFLAME is right. If we truly want limited gov’t, then let ME chose whether or not I want to be taxed for fire service. We’ve all become so conditioned to Uncle Sham taking “care” of us we’ve lost the ability to distinguish the difference between “care” and “advantage”. I fully support the decisions of the firemen and the homeowner. Isn’t it nice to still be able to decide?

      Now what I’d REALLY like to know is if the $75 fire insurance was deducted from the original tax basis prior to “reinstalling” it for the voluntary tax payers. I would hate to think that this tax was originally part of the services, retracted with no refund and then sold again to those who “wanted” it.

      Report Post »  
    • Jimwill2
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 11:19am

      This is nothing new… over thirty years ago I lived in a rural area in Missouri with a ‘dues’ fire district. The fire department always responds for rescue or evacuation and to protect paid up neighbors property. Please don’t fault the firefighters on the scene… their hands are tied by local protocol. Rural departments usually have lengthy response times and by the time they arrive entry into the structure is very risky.
      If the taxpayers won’t approve a tax-based fire department it has to be paid for by charging dues. Volunteer fire departments are expensive… a new pumper fully equipped can cost close to $500,000. Good used pumpers are hard to find, expensive, and still need thousands of dollars to equip. Firefighter gear can easily cost $1000 per man plus breathing apparatus at $2000 each.

      Report Post »  
    • BeadGirl
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 11:22am

      @caitlynsdad,

      No I’m not Catholic. I love to bead.

      Report Post »  
    • QweeQwa
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 11:29am

      @competeorlose

      Just like the self righteous man of cloth and favorite of the Righties, Mike Huchabee, you are equating human life with a mere piece of property. This my friends is our future under the control of the Right.

      Report Post »  
    • caitlynsdad
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 11:30am

      @Beadgirl
      Oh okay. Guess I have rosary beads on the brain. :)

      Report Post » caitlynsdad  
    • BeadGirl
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 11:30am

      @QueeQwa…

      Thank you for your apology and I apologize if I got out of hand. I am somebody who doesn’t normally like confrontation myself.

      However,

      “This is heartless and what is scary it is just a gimps of what will be the norm if the Righties ever get in power again.”

      I don’t think this is restricted to just one party. I think this is an example of not only bad policymaking, but of complacency on the part of the city council to not do anything about this from the very beginning. I would be very interested to see who actually wrote this…and who let it go through. If it was the result of conservative governing then I’m sorry the policy passed; if it was the result of liberal governing then I’m sorry the policy passed.

      Bad policies and laws are made from BOTH sides of the aisle.

      Report Post »  
    • mizflame98
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 11:42am

      @ Wyatt:
      These folks live in the county so they wouldn’t be paying city taxes. That’s why they have the fee. I think that‘s what some folks aren’t understanding. These folks aren’t paying the taxes but they expect the people in the city who pay taxes for the fire service and the other county people who pay the annual fee to carry them in an event of a disaster.
      PS:
      Thanks.

      Report Post » mizflame98  
    • ProudTeaPartyMember
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 11:50am

      Excellent post.

      Report Post » ProudTeaPartyMember  
    • firecap51
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 11:59am

      To Whitehouse Mouse, I am a firefighter and I gurentee if someone’s life was at stake, there would have been action taken to save them if it was possible. I do not think I could work for that City if I was told I could not fight a fire over $75. That is my job and what I get paid for. I could see billing them for services afterwards if they did not pay, but I do not understand taking no action at all.

      Report Post »  
    • QweeQwa
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 12:08pm

      @beadgirl

      You say, “Bad policies and laws are made from BOTH sides of the aisle.”

      I agree 100%. I didnt vote for Obama or McCain, in my state we can still right in a candidate and that is what I did. believe it or not he was a Republican but after this summer I can not support any Republicans. In the words of Ronald Reagan, who I did vote for in 80 and 84, I did not leave the Republican party, the Republican party left me. This new brand on TeaBaggers are nuts as far as I am concerned. The Right should not be embraced; wake up, they arew against the middle class and everybody who is not wealthy. Did not their actions over the last couple of months prove this. No, the Republican party I grew up with would never slander unemployed Americans as being drug addicts and lazy. They would never take the wealthy over the middle class. On and on it goes—I am done with them.

      Report Post »  
    • Libertyluvnmomma
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 12:19pm

      I wouldn’t doubt it for a minute- I’m that cynical
      Spanish ….that is funny, not really……………..

      Report Post » Libertyluvnmomma  
    • EdMan
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 12:28pm

      I was a volunteer fire fighter in a small town in northern Missouri. This would have never happened. If someone didn’t pay there dues they where sent a bill if we put out a fire. In most cases the insurance company would pay the bill. What the hell was wrong with this sicko firemen.

      Report Post »  
    • richard the lion-hearted
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 12:32pm

      mizflame98 – Such a heartless position you’ve taken, I am surely glad that you are no longer a firefighter. You cannot mix morality and doing the right thing with legislative mishaps. Their law is flawed and real concerned citizens (firefighters) would act regardless of that. The rationing of this service is a prime example of the politicians misusing tax payers dollars, unwilling to shrink the government where it’s needed they use safety services (and the threat of cuts to them) to extort more money from the citizens. For all you heartless people, have you considered if the ‘people’ were even allowed to vote on such a measure or why the politicians saw fit to extract a service that is for saving lives from the overall budget rather than some other costly unnessassary ‘feel good’ service?

      Report Post » richard the lion-hearted  
    • Vast Right Wing Conspiracy Czar
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 12:36pm

      wow.

      put out the fire, and settle in court. man oh man

      Report Post » Vast Right Wing Conspiracy Czar  
    • nordspan
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 12:40pm

      I think that we might be assuming a bit much here against the Firefighters. It‘s most likely a local gov’t leadership decision. In our non-incorporated cities there is a new tax for firefighters to go out to homes, and if there is an “outstanding” billing that is something that the city takes on with the homeowner afterwards.

      Many people decline to pay and they’ll find out that their homeowners insurance policy will pay outstanding firefighter billings up to $500. I know that Allstate will at least in our State.

      Report Post »  
    • Big Bob
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 12:55pm

      the thing is originally your property taxes were there to protect your property the intention of the tax was for fire and police. Cities and towns have turned to using this money for everything but and now they turn around and say we can’t afford fire and police when they should be cutting back on sidewalks,schools, and any charities that the illegally choose to fund. schools and sidewalks aren’t illegal the funding of charities with tax money is, but schools and sidewalks should come second to protecting the property that you are paying taxes on.

      Report Post »  
    • IHeartConservatism
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 12:56pm

      The solution to this is very, very, simple. The man can pay $75/year for firefighter services, or he can pay for the cost of putting the fire out if a fire happens, which would probably amount to $10,000, or $20,000.

      Of course, the fire department shouldn’t put out fires for anyone who refuses to pay for the service. Where this city went wrong, is they wouldn’t put out the fire, even when he said he would pay them whatever.

      This is how the private health care system works. You get health insurance so you won’t get hit with a huge hospital bill. If you don’t get health insurance, then you get hit with a huge hospital bill, but you are not denied health care. You will always get health care, regardless.

      To refuse to put the man’s house out when he offered to pay for the full cost of the fire department is going too far.

      Report Post »  
    • Sicboy
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 1:10pm

      If you listen to Beck today, it’s too damn bad. He didn’t pay his $75. He set up a caller who said our tax dollars go to pay for the fire dept. But apparently, Beck did so research and the town voters agreed to pay the $75. Or did they? To many times city Govts say one thing and do something else. I have to disagree with Beck on this one. City Tax’s go to Fire, Police, school. Sounds like someone was duped. Now they have to pay a little extra to get the Fire Dept out. How much to get the Police out?

      Report Post » Sicboy  
    • Alydia
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 1:16pm

      @ Qweeqwa….”You make a very good point. No one knew if anybody was in there or not. If there was, they would have died over $75–such a cheap value Christians put on a human beings life.”

      My response…I don’t anyone to confuse me with qweeqwa..
      OK Qweeqwa….where did you get, in this story, that someone was a Christian or any mention of Christianity????? Far stretch, huh? Do all of you dems/libs just make up lies as you go along?

      Vote Republican or you will sound and think like qweeqwa!

      Report Post »  
    • kfjackson
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 1:18pm

      Unions don,t pay don,t play sounds like Obama Chicago politics to me. So let me guess they don,t have to pay taxes for the fire department. Who,s RACIST here UNIONS.

      Report Post »  
    • mizflame98
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:40pm

      To RICHARD THE LION-HEARTED:
      Yes I have considered it. They were not citizens of the city. They lived in the county and thus did not pay taxes for fire service. The county residents decided themselves to set up the annual fee for fire protection. They voted on it. Now I’m heartless because someone decided to risk getting a free ride. You know, If I was still a firefighter it would absolutely kill me to not put that fire out. But it would kill me more if we didn’t have the proper equipment and someone on my team was injured, or God forbids; die in the line of duty because people like this guy didn‘t pay his fee to ensure we would have the equipment to take care of people’s property safely and efficiently. Now, add to this scenario that this dude’s son was careless with his burning. Knowing that you didn’t pay for fire protection that year, would you honestly put your property at risk like that instead of putting the burn barrels on a concrete slab and having a charged water hose next to you while burning? Come on!

      Report Post » mizflame98  
    • moelarrycurly
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 3:13pm

      so let me get this straight…so we pay taxes and now we have to pay extra for basic services and infrastructure? What a crock of s$%t. The gales of November! Not only should we vote them out-but we need to watch who they work for afterward. Blacklist the bastards!!!

      Report Post »  
    • moelarrycurly
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 4:37pm

      Ok-If this man paid taxes that was to go to emergency services-even if only in part then the county or city in this case should put out the fire. We should not get a free ride. However-i think they should have worked the fire and then levied a fine of roughly double what it cost the county or city or to the tune of-I dunno $10-20k…settle in court. I think causing such a political stink about it and then comparing it to obummercare is the worst kind of political crap.They have open a political wet dream for some left wing political dope to stump on. using this man and the situation to expand government and further his political career. Frankly-i wish I could opt out of a lot of stuff I’m forced to pay for. That would actually put the left wing back under control if you could choose where your taxes went. hmmm…

      Report Post »  
    • Compete or Lose
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 4:56pm

      .
      .
      .
      @ QweeQwa

      Your version of life is that the government should protect us from our right to make free decisions.

      A logical extension is that Government should probably not permit people to choose their major in college–because after all, they may make a bad choice.

      How about not letting people decide to have children because they may have a defective genetic makeup and consequently, the government should force their sterilization to protect them from having defective children.

      I can think of more egregious examples of government intervention in our freedoms but I think you got the point.

      Good luck

      RGS

      Report Post »  
    • woodsdog
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 5:08pm

      I think PLOWMAN has the right idea. The insurance company should have been made to pay the cost. That sounds like a better system since their home-owners insurance would be rated for this type of fire protection. Fire departments aren’t free. The equipment is very costly. When will some of you get real and realize NOTHING IS FREE. Somebody has to foot the bill. Everybody needs to pay their own way. Which means everybody needs to work, with some exception for disabled, elderly, etc. and pay their fair share. Sounds like we may have some free-loaders on this comment page.

      Report Post »  
    • firebug
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 5:09pm

      Firefighters that work for City departments and are paid by that city out of tax money do not and cannot refuse to do their job. There are many volunteer fire departments that operate on the fee base that are not held to the same standards and beliefs as professional paid firefighters. Do not group all firefighters in one class.

      Report Post »  
    • richard the lion-hearted
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 6:36pm

      This is where common sense goes out the window with many people, sure let it burn, but show up to watch, let it burn he didn’t pay the $75, that will teach him a lesson, let him lose all he owns. Let it burn and subsequently possibly cause harm to others homes or God forbid someone was still inside unaccounted for. How about this, charge the man after the fact, bill it to his water, or off of his state taxes…that simplistic answer to hard for some of you to grasp? And guess what, he pays, he learns a lesson, and he keeps his home valued at by many of you at $75. Heartless, like I said. If you don’t think this is the root cause of ALL our other problems you need to shake yourself awake.

      Report Post » richard the lion-hearted  
    • estray
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 9:00pm

      Add your comments

      Report Post »  
    • walkwithme1966
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 9:00pm

      I am appalled by this story – there are just some things that a civilized society does not allow to happen – sorry I didn’i agree with Glenn on this one. What have we become when we let our neighbors house burn down over $75 – I’m sorry but this is just wrong on so many different levels – including Christianity.

      http://wp.me/pYLB7-bc

      Report Post » walkwithme1966  
    • Nostraquedeo
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 9:41pm

      Oh I‘m sorry you didn’t pay ahead of time.
      Yes your right that bums don‘t pay for police but that doesn’t have a fee.
      Why am I here? I just came to roast some hot dogs.
      Your not going to hold a grudge right? I am within my rights.

      Oh, by the way come by my house and get some candy on the 31′st.
      What do you mean you have nothing left? You still have your health.
      Ha ha ha ha ha ha.

      Report Post »  
    • ReGul
      Posted on October 5, 2010 at 11:08pm

      Too funny…and yet…probably so true

      Report Post » ReGul  
    • TruthTalker
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:22am

      Queerwa has a basic fundemental problem with self reliance that has made our country the most powerful nation on earth. You have the fundemental right to decide if you want to provide for yourself, If you choose differently, then that is your right, but live by your decision…. He/her/Shemale has decided to invade this site. That is fine, but his/her/it’s foolishinish is not sold here. Nobody is buying your “You are responsible for the stupid mentality others make.. Take it to another corner. Keep talkin‘ walkin’.
      Trying to make it political is just plain stupid. If you dont buy insurance to insure you home. You have no insurance. Period.

      Report Post »  
    • mountainfolk88
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 11:19am

      What is wrong with you people. you want government out of your lives unless it upsets your apple cart. He had a option to pay for a protective service (insurance if you will) and he decided not to. HIS SON burnt his house down and now it a firedepartments fault. A fire department he did not support with his money even through taxes but he has a right to this service sounds like an argument recently made for government run healthcare that i guess all of you now support. Face it you are either for freedom even when it hurts or you want big brother to take care of you. pick one.

      Report Post » mountainfolk88  
    • christmantom
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 11:51am

      CHEEZWHIZ, that may work if the operator can speak Spanish.

      The occupant knew there was a 75 dollar annual fee for fire protection, so why not pay the fee? The home owner made a poor choice. Let it burn.

      Report Post »  
    • squeezys88
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:04pm

      good answer

      Report Post »  
    • EngineCo23
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:45pm

      Cheezwhiz, however raceist it may sound, may have a point. Although having been a firefighter/paramedic for 30 years I know that most cities that charge for service do so after
      the fact. Further, they usually accept insurance payments without charging the residents for the deductable. What I would suggest, rather than speaking spanish, is for the county to incorporate the costs for fire and rescue services into yearly property taxes thus eliminating the need for decption to recieve life saving help.

      Report Post » EngineCo23  
    • 1NuttyHog
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 1:22pm

      I live in a rural area and have to pay annual fees. We pay these fees for the same protection, because of where we live and we have a volunteer firefighting dept. If there is someone in the home, they will risk their lives and livelihoods to save them. Our fee is only $20.00 dollars, but if one of our fire fighters falls, they have to rely on their community to help their family, because hence the word “volunteer”. They risk their lives every day for nothing, but His praise and to help his fellow man in need. The monetary fee is to offset certain costs associated with the dept. It does receive monies from some taxes, but rural areas, ( believe it or not ) receive less money than large metropolitan areas. What a concept, Huh?

      Report Post »  
    • lihartke
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 1:28pm

      Lolololo !!!!!

      Report Post » lihartke  
    • klassens1
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 3:58pm

      OK so here’s what NO ONE will talk about – Salaried firefighters work a 56-hour week but this includes time for sleep, workout, and of course buying BBQ supplies. After that they are off the clock. Here in Colorado Springs the starting salary is $61,000+. Pretty sweet deal huh? But still don’t you think 1 guy could have said this is bull, got into his truck and went to help? Seems awlful. Now of course volunteer firemen are a different story pay wise and that I don’t know but still not even one guy says to his boss this is WRONG!. Talk about dedication to duty. Oh and lastly did you know that unless you’re UNIONIZED you cannot have your name of the Intl Firefighters Wall here in Colorado Springs?

      Report Post »  
    • Relocated1
      Posted on October 6, 2010 at 5:25pm

      couldn’t they have just sent a bill? I mean really? Is it really necessary to have the money upfront? Seriously….

      Report Post » Relocated1  
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