Jim
Then I retract the insinuating comment above. My apologies.
Simple answer is Yes. When it comes to aiding our fellow man then I would not follow the rules. Sort it out later but I'm not going home knowing that I had the training, the equipment and failed to respond.
Fire me... That's fine with me.
I guess it boils down to this:
Do I care about myself first?
or
Do I care about others first?
I know what the New Testament has to say about that.
If the FD responds to fires at places which have not paid the fee, then why would anybody pay the fee? And if no one pays the fee, there will be no FD to respond.
It's pretty tough, but I bet a lot of people are checking their receipts and mailing out $75 checks today.
Pretty simple Mark. If you pay the $75 fee for insurance then you are covered. If not then you are liable for the total amount.
It does not mean that a responder will not help or do his job, or should not anyway.
You can't be serious!
You have got to be kidding! If this is truly the state of things there is no hope for us as a civilized people.
I truly believe we (as a civilization) are in a state of devolution.
This whole episode reminds me of a little story I recently heard from a "ditto head".
A good person, an honest worker, salt of the Earth kind of guy. He was working and listening to the Rush show on the radio and he was all worked up over the "coming end times".
This guy has a hoard of non perishable foods stored away, and buys a little more every week. Along with guns and ammo, which he faithfully stocks up a little when he can.
He proceeded to say how he is ready to fight the gangs of desperados that will be roaming around taking what they can to survive. (So far, not much different from my own Grandfathers views back in the 70s-80s)
BUT then he went on to say how he would shoot and kill his neighbor, a "sweet little old lady" just to take what she has to help his family! Not to protect them! Just to add to their hoard! So THEY can survive that much longer!
Yeah, I'm sure that's what Jesus would do also.:-O
If the FD responds to fires at places which have not paid the fee, then why would anybody pay the fee? And if no one pays the fee, there will be no FD to respond.
Things like police and fire protection should never be fee based. They are legitimate government services and should be funded from the general tax fund at some level. Why would any locality ever put their citizens and police department-Fire department in a situation like this one?
Jeez, just add it to the Tax bill....doesn't everyone pay real estate taxes to someone?
or if there is a problem and the "fire fee" isn't paid then place a lien on the property.
There are a lot of easier answers than to just watch it burn.
".....no substantial benefit to anyone?"
How about saving what was left of the house and belonging of that citizen?
geee whiz.......
> Simple answer is Yes. When it comes to aiding our fellow man then I would not follow the rules. Sort it out later but I'm not going home knowing that I had the training, the equipment and failed to respond.
>
> Fire me... That's fine with me.
Indeed. I would do the same.
Sounds like how Crassus used to fight fires
...The rest of Crassus' wealth was acquired more conventionally, through traffic in slaves, the working of silver mines, and judicious purchases of land and houses, especially those of proscribed citizens. Most notorious was his acquisition of burning houses: when Crassus received word that a house was on fire, he would arrive and purchase the doomed property along with surrounding buildings for a modest sum, and then employ his army of 500 clients to put the fire out before much damage had been done. Crassus' clients employed the Roman method of firefighting—destroying the burning building to curtail the spread of the flames.
> I have a simple rule for situations like this: "Do what you need to do to get the job done and deal with the bull**** later"
>
> They should have put the fire out and let the city/municipality/fire dept deal with the aftermath. That may have included sending a bill for time and expenses, etc.
Very well said.
I bet almost everybody here would have a hard time stopping themselves from jumping in to help, whatever way they could.
> "He just cold-cocked him," Police Chief Andy Crocker told the Union City Daily Messenger. The younger Cranick was arrested and charged with felony aggravated assault, and South Fulton Fire Chief David Wilds was treated and released from a hospital, Crocker said.
>
Felony Aggravated Assault? What weapon did he use? Did he knock him down and start Kicking the Feces out of him. The way things are going having a loud disagreement will be Felony yelling next.
P-Ant PD and DA.
HC
>
> I hope the son gets the maximum sentence for his stupidity. The fire chief did his job as he was supposed to do it.
If you truly believe that, I hope you never live in an area where people stand up for what they believe, cause you would be bouncing on your backside a lot.
Stephen
> > "He just cold-cocked him," Police Chief Andy Crocker told the Union City Daily Messenger. The younger Cranick was arrested and charged with felony aggravated assault, and South Fulton Fire Chief David Wilds was treated and released from a hospital, Crocker said.
> >
>
> Felony Aggravated Assault? What weapon did he use? Did he knock him down and start Kicking the Feces out of him. The way things are going having a loud disagreement will be Felony yelling next.
>
> P-Ant PD and DA.
Sad to say, but if you assault a public officer in Texas, it's a felony. In fact, you can commit murder, and it be just that, murder, but if you kill a public officer, then it can be capital murder. For as much insulation the law provides them, it should expect they put the damn fire out also.
I wonder what a head count of the firemen of that unit would reveal. Has everyone there paid their $75 subscription. Do they feel that they are exempt from the fee. If that were so, then by all ethical standards, by not paying the fee they would have to sit back and watch their own house burn to the ground.
What about the entire community that has their homeowners insurance rates valuated on the response and abilities of the fire department. It is not based upon the fact the homeowner is a subscriber. The fact that they will not act to certain fires should raise the rates of the whole community. I would not sell policies to anyone there and as the insurance company would certainly have something to say to the community that would sit back and watch a house burn.
I can remember when that mentality existed in my area. It is true that firemen do not and probably could not operate as a business. It is a public service organization the same as law enforcement, first responders, ambulance drivers, appointed attorneys, judges and commissioners and many others that provide a service that is necessary for any community to exist.
Thank god Texas has come to their senses on this. It was a struggle to put it all together. Too many chiefs and nobody wanted to take orders from anyone else was a major obstacle. It took passing decrees across boundary lines and establishing guidelines of cooperation. Everything is a work in progress with the help of grants, meals for donations, state and federal funds, sharing of equipment and setting up fire districts that have a tax base.
Everyone that has been the victim of a fire usually makes a donation to those that respond to their help, however large or small when they are able. It may be in the form of a helping effort or money, whichever they are able to afford.
That area needs to get up to speed and do what is necessary to help everyone or there will be many more firemen being punched in the face. I don't agree with throwing the book at the son. A donation to the fireman's fund would be a sufficient penalty.
The administration that is backing the decision to refuse assistance to put out a house fire because of no subscription should be charged with neglecting the duties of their office.
Every time I have heard a story like this, it makes me wonder what rock people with this mentality crawled out under.
Kris
It wasn't when I wore a badge, unless there were injuries that could be considered life altering or threatening. A black eye did not a felony make. That was Assault on a Police Officer, a class A misdemeanor. Punishable by fine and up to 1 year in County Jail.
Imagine...
If there was a mix-up in the paperwork and they did pay the $75....and the F.D. said they didn't, and watched the structure burn?
My point is you can always bill them for the cost of putting the fire out!!!!...Once something is destroyed by fire...kinda hard to get it back..
Take your 'let it burn' arguement to the animals that died. If somebody was trapped in there would the reaction be the same? to let it burn?
Sure am happy I live in the northeast...
They Could Have Charged The Insurance Company A Large Fee
Without having paid the annual fee the fire company could have charged a substantial response fee to the homeowner's insurance company.
We pay a subscription fee to our local emergency squad. Without it there is a substantial hourly rate which they bill to your insurance company.
Same deal should work for fire service. The fire company should never have to look at a list. had there been a loss of life that town's budget would be toast.
Paul in PA
> Pretty simple Mark. If you pay the $75 fee for insurance then you are covered. If not then you are liable for the total amount.
Well, then you are talking about a privatized subscriber system. It might work. Pay for service on an as needed basis. But what about when you are walking by a house and notice a fire. Nobody home. You call the FD, they check their database and find that the place is not a subscriber and ask if you are paying. Not me, says you. What then?
