Firefighters intentionally let a home burn to the ground

[Skwim]

The fire chiefs opposed a proposal to fund the fire department with taxes. And since they serve residents of the city without requiring any extra fees, they apparently have the budget for a firehouse, trucks and equipment, and salaries even if nobody at all pays the $75 fee.

Not apparent at all because rural fire service subscribers are also anteing into the pot.

From my post #205 which cites this remark from

"Obion County, Tennessee
Rural Fire Protection Plan Information
​

"Unless a Fire Department offers a Rural Fire Protection Subscription Service, the taxpayers of the city or town are paying for your service."
​

Fact is, the city of South Fulton did offer just such a Subscription Service, and there were rural folk who were paying the fee. Witness dummkopf's brighter neighbor. So the city alone wasn't paying the fare.

Again, a fire department should not be just a business.

Then if the people feel as you do they have a choice through their elected officials to change the operation. Obviously in this county this is something they've chosen not to do.

If it's really about money, that's reprehensible. However I'm not convinced it's really about money. I have a strong suspicion that that the fire chief is just some prick who's found himself a sinecure and either doesn't want to be bothered with rural fires, or gets off on insisting that people respect his authoratie.

Yeah, don't you just hate it when people play the rules and mandates of their job.

 

[Smoke]

Not apparent at all because rural fire service subscribers are also anteing into the pot.

You mean the town can't or won't fund its own fire department? Seems the town residents should be paying protection money too, then.

Yeah, don't you just hate it when people play the rules and mandates of their job.

A person who must excuse his behavior by saying he was just following orders is a sorry son of a *****.

 

[Skwim]

You mean the town can't or won't fund its own fire department?

I would assume, not at the present rate. If there were no rural fire service fees then that lost income would have to be made up from other sources, which would most likely be in the form of increased city property taxes.

Seems the town residents should be paying protection money too, then.

They are, in the form of property taxes, as are all municipal services. And don't ask me how this is handled. I don't know

A person who must excuse his behavior by saying he was just following orders is a sorry son of a *****.

And you suppose some other fire chief wouldn't do the same? Absolutely! As I pointed out, the sad reality is if they had put out the fire they would be setting a dangerous precedent. If you're looking for someone to blame look no further than the dummkoph. As a matter of bitter regrets I'm sure everyone, fire chief included, wishes things could have gone differently. I don't know if you've ever been in such a situation, where you would have dearly liked to help someone out of a difficult situation, but your hands were too tightly tied to help. It isn't a nice feeling. Believe me. It SUCKS big time. There are no winners here.

 

[Smoke]

And you suppose some other fire chief wouldn't do the same? Absolutely! As I pointed out, the sad reality is if they had put out the fire they would be setting a dangerous precedent.

I think a man is a man before he is a functionary. I don't suppose it's possible for us to reach any agreement on this subject.

 

[AxisMundi]

And my point is that while that's perfectly reasonable in the case of the insurance company, it's reprehensible for firefighters to refuse to put out a fire because the homeowner has not paid an annual fee up front. A fire department is not -- or at any rate should not be -- just a business, much less a business that places profits ahead of public safety.

While I absolutely agree with you, there is the simple fact that the fire occured outside of this department's juridiction.

This is why they charge the rural homeowners a fee.

But I also agree that this department should've put the fire out and then squared up later. At the very elast they could've saved the three dogs who died in the fire.

As a volunteer fire fighter, I find the actions of this department absolutely reprhensible and just plain sick, the same feeling I get towards the death threats these firefighters are getting too.