Firefighters Let Home Burn Over Unpaid Fee

^Great points

I dont get it, these people are your neighbors. Really gets me pissed how petty these people were...i think the story is telling of where this country is

I don't think very many people have read the article. The county which had the fire does not even have a fire department. They rely on another county for fire services and thats why they must pay for the service. The one county has no way of taxing the people of another county so they must charge a fee.

I've read a lot of articles on this-it's not a matter of taxes or a missed payment of a fee...it's a matter of human decency. I couldn't imagine that if I fell behind on my city taxes or forgot to pay something that the city would just tell me I was SOL...or some other stupid shit like that. In this economy-people are struggling...it doesn't mean they have to stand and watch their pets burn to death and lose everything they own in this entire world over some political BS.

I've read a lot of articles on this-it's not a matter of taxes or a missed payment of a fee...it's a matter of human decency. I couldn't imagine that if I fell behind on my city taxes or forgot to pay something that the city would just tell me I was SOL...or some other stupid shit like that. In this economy-people are struggling...it doesn't mean they have to stand and watch their pets burn to death and lose everything they own in this entire world over some political BS.

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.

I don't think very many people have read the article. The county which had the fire does not even have a fire department. They rely on another county for fire services and thats why they must pay for the service. The one county has no way of taxing the people of another county so they must charge a fee.

I read it, I understand it (city within the county provides fire protection to the subscribers in surrounding county areas), I don't care for their actions regardless of whether they were contracted or not. Were fire fighters within their rights not to put out the fire? Absolutely. Is it a good policy? Absolutely not.

I rather like my socialist fire department...if hillbillies in Tennessee don't that's their business.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

Hard to believe this is even a debate.