firefighters watch a house burn because the owner did not pay annual fee.

[jlnguyen74]

My thoughts exactly, it's sickening. I can't believe folks here feel like this guy got what he deserved. And it's not about sympathy. If you guys knew me personally you'd know I'm the most apathetic person on the planet. But this crap just isn't right, at least not in America. I'd expect this from some other dirtbag third world country. I can only imagine what other develop nations must think of us now.

"May be" he doesn't deserve that, but he sleeps in the bed that he made!

 

[jlnguyen74]

I think any responsible firefighter would be ashamed of this. Was talking to an buddy that lives out of state. He's a firefighter and was saying how his entire department, including the Chief, was disgusted by this. Paraphrased, he said, 'We're better than that. We're trained to help people in need and that's what we do. I'm embarassed by what these guys did. It isn't right. It's not what we do."

I'll bet every single firefighter, except those in the article, will say that they'll take out the fire, that they wouldn't watch the house burnt down, that they're disgusted... Of course, those other firefighers made a bad name out of all firefighters... But they can only say that, because they're not in those other firefighters' shoes... Talk is cheap! You don't get hurt, unless the needle pokes you! Hypocracy!

 

[Dan F]

It really is hard to believe they actually have this policy.

Wouldn't it make much more sense to put out the fires and then send people that don't pay the annual fee a bill? The costs are huge, and even if the person is a deadbeat they could sell the debt to collections for a lot more than $75.

jcardona1 has mentioned a lot of other really good points, but I thought I would throw this one out.

 

[Freezekougra]

Well I'm not really sure who to side with...

but wow...lesson learned? lol

 

[SemperFish]

not to offend you or disrespect you or the marines but your a marine so you only do what you are order to do and not to do. either right or wrong you still do it cuz its an order. so i guess even if people were in the house and trapped and burned to death. the firefighter did the right thing cuz they had orders right?

by the way today at work i had to deliver some stuff and i saw a kid on the ground. i found out he hit the curb on his bike and was holding his leg. i pulled over to see if he was ok. after 5 mins he got back up was ok and got back on his bike and rode off. i guess i didnt do the right thing? because my job was to deliever something for work, i didnt know the kid. it was none of my business but yet i stopped and see if i could help. would i be a jerk if i didnt have stopped?

It is a huge misconception that Marines only do what they are told and nothing else. Given the dynamic nature of warfare how does anyone really believe this is the case? Marines are encouraged to take initiative and the distributed nature of warfare and the fog of war require that Marines make decisions based upon the situation and intent. Im not going to start a lecture on command and control and cobat leadership. let it just suffice to say that the notion that Marines, or any other American servicemembers only do what they are told is wrong.

As for your example, you know you did the right thing. Your assertion is asinine and I thnk you know it. Now do we know all the details of the firemen that responded to the fire? As an example I will posit one potential scenario. Perhaps on another occassion the fire fighters put out a fire at a house that had not paid its fee. As a result the department was embroiled in a legal pursuit of the money. As firefighter smith leaves the house with his team does his superior tell him "youre there to save the guys house that paid. The department cant afford a lawyer to squeeze the money out of someone who didnt pay!" Smith has a family to feed and a career he wants to keep. When he arrives on scene the owner of the house is there. Perhaps they asked if anyone was in there? we dont know. Smith made a call based on multiple variables.
Could he have claimed he thought he heard someone screaming and put out the fire to save lives? sure , maybe. we dont know. They may not have had the best solution. Best solutions are often hard to come by at the moment. So, I say again. We cant second guess them and they did not do the wrong thing.
Everyone keeps saying what if ? what if? what if?
well what if you were there? well then youd know what really went down. The rest of us are just speculating. These guys dont deserve to be demonized.

 

[MadRussian79]

We cant second guess them and they did not do the wrong thing.

No, we have to second guess and analyze their decision. Mainly that's how you learn and how you prepare for a situation. As far as right or wrong. Well most of their fellow fire fighter are outraged at their decision. If everyone in your field thinks you made a bad decision they you probably made a bad decision. This is not the same as some armchair general second guessing Patton because he has access to maps and after action reports from both sides.

I will not blame the firefighters as they did not make the decision to stand by. The system is completely screwed up is someone can say let it burn over a $75. The situation was brought on by two people behaving badly given the town policy. The home owner was a schmuck for not paying and the chief was an ******* for ordering the stand down. Now his men are getting crucified for his dickhead decision.

The system being the one that the people in the town set up to take care of fire fighting service.

 

[SemperFish]

I will not blame the firefighters as they did not make the decision to stand by. The system is completely screwed up is someone can say let it burn over a $75. The situation was brought on by two people behaving badly given the town policy. The home owner was a schmuck for not paying and the chief was an ******* for ordering the stand down. Now his men are getting crucified for his dickhead decision. .

So we both agree. The firefighters on the scene did nothing wrong. This has been my point all along. Policy may be screwed up and the homeowners a fool but the firefighters themselves should not be punished.

 

[MadRussian79]

Yeah. Not their fault. You are ordered to stand down you stand down. Ignoring orders in all but the most extreme cases usually leads to those exact extreme cases. Unless you know the whole situation or have been ordered to do something way beyond the pall (like setting a fire because a fee was not paid) you do it. How can you know why the boss ordered a stand down? Could be a methlab/chem fire in the trailer which you as a firefighter are not equipped to handle.

For all those comparing this to a protection racket see above. If you fail to pay your protection money they don't let the competition break your legs they do it.

 

[Red Devil]

this is horrible.. put the fire out regardless ... he should sue them...

 

[Gasha]

Your post just wreaks of ignorance. Illegal or not, they get taxes withheld from their pay just like everybody else. Sure, they may be using a false SSN, but they still pay taxes to uncle sam. Get a clue

and this is ok?? you should be kicked out the country..... and most of them work under the table... so you get a clue?? you got illegals in your family? i know people who came into this country legally (hispanic) and joined our military and fought 2+ tours and are citizens... they belong! illegals... there is nothing ignorant about me my friend... you are ignorant! and the people i know stand firmly on not allowing people of their own country to come here illegal.... and false social security is b.s... kids are graduating high school and are getting credit problems having to be delt with because of crap like that..... you just shouldn't talk...

and as for illegal aliens... (as you might experiance first hand in your family...(lol, now i'm being ignorant) they send money.. majority untaxed and mail it home.. i know an illegal who i'm buddies with and i tell him all the time he's a thief.. would i report him?.. he's my friend.. so no, and he is in the process of becoming legal because his visa ran up 2 years ago... also he's all ready been caught and in the state of MA released the same day... our country is messed up!!

all i did was make reference to illegals and you play the ignorant card... lol i wasn't ignorant in that post but as you can see i can get real ignorant if you want