Firefighters watch blaze, set off dispute

s_isale
By s_isale

Here's the short version of what happened: In rural Obion County, homeowners must pay $75 annually for fire protection services from the nearby city of South Fulton. If they don't pay the fee and their home catches fire, tough luck -- even if firefighters are positioned just outside the home with hoses at the ready.

Gene Cranick found this out the hard way.

When Cranick's house caught fire last week, and he couldn't contain the blaze with garden hoses, he called 911. During the emergency call, he offered to pay all expenses related to the Fire Department's defense of his home, but the South Fulton firefighters refused to do anything.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20101005/pl_yblog_upshot/rural-tenn...

By britexpat• 6 Oct 2010 09:44
britexpat

If you get a leak in your house and you don't have insurance, would they still repair ?

It's harsh, but that is the law there. I would hope that if a life was in danger, then the FD would help.

By s_isale• 6 Oct 2010 09:42
s_isale

whatever, the reactions would have been severe if it was Qatar or some other Asian/African country

By somwerNdmiddle• 6 Oct 2010 09:09
somwerNdmiddle

that is US of A isale

By s_isale• 6 Oct 2010 09:08
s_isale

is this a developed country or a third world country?

By anonymous• 6 Oct 2010 08:57
anonymous

If a girl doesn't pay taxes, will the cop stand and watch if she is getting raped? Just curious

By soniya• 6 Oct 2010 08:54
soniya

That's something surprising to hear that people who are employed for the job of which they are capable of would refuse if they won't get the stipulated fee for their service..Shame on their JOB then...

By drmana• 6 Oct 2010 08:47
drmana

They could have redeemed the money due after the job was done. Fire-fighter watching someone's house burn by choice seems so cruel.

By s_isale• 6 Oct 2010 08:44
s_isale

then why do you pay taxes in the first place.

this rule seems crazy

By Lovable40• 6 Oct 2010 08:37
Lovable40

$ 75/year = QR 273.75 / year

$ 0.20/day = 75 dirhams / day

just a thought ....

By britexpat• 6 Oct 2010 08:23
britexpat

Sad, but they were following the rules.. I wouldn't like it if it happened to me, but ...

As per the news, Cranick, who lives outside the city limits, admits he "forgot" to pay the annual $75 fee.

The fire fee policy dates back 20 or so years.

By s_isale• 6 Oct 2010 08:16
s_isale

is it crass commercialization of public services?

By drmana• 6 Oct 2010 08:01
drmana

That is so unbelievable and so wrong. Fire fighters need to be charged for this.

By somwerNdmiddle• 6 Oct 2010 08:01
somwerNdmiddle

WTF do you have to pay $75 for fire protection?

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