For between $5-10K the guy could have bought his own decommissioned/antique working fire truck and put out his own fire! $5-10K is cheaper than rebuilding his house, I'm sure.
My brother lives in a rural high fire danger area of S. CA and he has 4 of his own fire trucks. One even has a working 80' ladder! He was afraid, and rightly so, that if there was a fire it would take too long for the county fire dept. to show up. There are people who collect old fire trucks, just like people collect old cars. There are even antique fire truck clubs and associations.
Just like car insurance... You pay for it in order to get coverage... The only reason for those fire fighter were there, because of the neighbor house paid the fee, thus, they render the service to make sure that the neighbor house didn't get burn down. They're not there for the owner, who didn't pay...
I might not agree with what they did but the fee is there for a reason.
Just look at the home owners own words. He said I thought they would put it out even if i didnt pay.
They had NO service untill the fee was put in place. Now they have fire service thanks to the fee. PAY YOUR FREAKIN FEE.
SIDE NOTE, anyone in MD ever see the Anti Erlich add?? THe one that says a fee and a tax are the same thing. No they arnt. Here is a good example. He had a FEE of 75 bucks.
Well, Im a Marine, so you could say its my job to kill people right? Not all people! Only the people my chain of command directs me to. Those firefighters were following their orders. Im sure if there were people inside they would have taken action because most firefighters are true believers. You dont get to pick which orders you follow and which ones you dont. Its a slippery slope once you start . From what Ive seen the firefighters did the right thing.
Well, coming from europe (where all such emergency services are for everyone) I can't see how in hells name this has become an issue of who pays. In the UK you can dial up emergency aid (for free) from ambulances (air and land), mountain rescue, coastguards, lifeboats, firefighters and the good ol police. These are what I would consider to be basic, lifesaving, services. Putting out fires or saving people from drowning should never be reduced to a simple economic exchange....
WAIT...what? I am a paid firefighter in Atlantic City, NJ. I didn't hear of this story and kinda wish I never had. This much I can tell you. A real firefighter could NEVER stand by and watch a man's house burn down. We are taught, and it becomes a part of us, to defend and protect against fire. To stand by and watch, NO MATTER WHAT THE ORDERS, goes to show that they are far from fireman and are probably just a bunch of pals who hang at the bar. Oh yea by the way....the Chief who gave that order, is probably the bartender.
In regards to not paying the fees, put a lien on his property for the time and usage. Then fine him on top of it. A lien and judgement is good enough. RISKING LIVES is not.
In my area these kinds of services are coverred by our taxes, which everyone ofcourse complains about. Some areas choose to have a fee imposed, the rationale being that non-homeowners shouldnt have to pay for flire protection for other peoples homes. I think under these circumstances firefighters should be like medical personnel. if you walk into the ER bleeding they will treat you, and then the administrators will bill you. IF it were set up like this the firefighters couldve put out the fire to prevent damage to surrounding areas and the county couldve billed the guy. Under the cricumstances and regulations they were working with however, they did nothing wrong.
Why isn't the "fee" included as part of their property taxes?
That is how it works where I live (rural area) and it seems like it makes a lot more sense. If you don't pay your taxes then you have an issue with the state, not the local firefighters. Fire protection is something that everyone should have, and everyone should pay for - crazy communist idea, isn't it?
I am also a fire figther and i do as my chain of command tells me. He didnt pay his fee, He deserves it. In florida we are threatend to lose job again cause no money in the budget for anything. so the goverment cant fix everyones problem.if he doesnt want to pay for it than he got what was coming to him.
