Tennessee family home burns while firefighters watch

[89Hen]

I surely thought I baited you to make a snide comment on having to pay to go to the beach in NJ.

I pay every time I go to the beach in NJ. Will be there in 5 weeks.

[CAA Flagship]

I surely thought I baited you to make a snide comment on having to pay to go to the beach in NJ.

I pay every time I go to the beach in NJ. Will be there in 5 weeks.

Which casino?

[AZGrizFan]

I don't know, maybe the family could be made to pay for all the years they didn't pay, fine them for another ten year's worth, and give the homeowners 75-100 hours of community service. I just can't fathom a fire department sitting there watching someone's life burn away when they can do something about it. Humanity > Money.

THIS.

More to the point - not even that.

When we let a families home burn like this - we become no better than a 3rd world country. We are better people than this... to let someones home burn to the ground in the name of budget cuts... it's an outrage.

Fire protection, like police protection, should be universal.

Oh, boo hoo. I'm in the exact same situation as these folks, and I pay a FUCK of a lot more than $75/year for fire protection. Guess I should just save my money and expect them to put out a fire at my house anyways?

[dbackjon]

THIS.

More to the point - not even that.

When we let a families home burn like this - we become no better than a 3rd world country. We are better people than this... to let someones home burn to the ground in the name of budget cuts... it's an outrage.

Fire protection, like police protection, should be universal.

Oh, boo hoo. I'm in the exact same situation as these folks, and I pay a FUCK of a lot more than $75/year for fire protection. Guess I should just save my money and expect them to put out a fire at my house anyways?

One way to get out of upside-down mortgage...

[AZGrizFan]

Oh, boo hoo. I'm in the exact same situation as these folks, and I pay a FUCK of a lot more than $75/year for fire protection. Guess I should just save my money and expect them to put out a fire at my house anyways?

One way to get out of upside-down mortgage...

[89Hen]

I pay every time I go to the beach in NJ. Will be there in 5 weeks.

Which casino?

Not sure yet. Work trip (yeah right, who's bright idea?)

[89Hen]

THIS.

More to the point - not even that.

When we let a families home burn like this - we become no better than a 3rd world country. We are better people than this... to let someones home burn to the ground in the name of budget cuts... it's an outrage.

Fire protection, like police protection, should be universal.

Oh, boo hoo. I'm in the exact same situation as these folks, and I pay a FUCK of a lot more than $75/year for fire protection. Guess I should just save my money and expect them to put out a fire at my house anyways?

They can just bill you afterwards.

[AZGrizFan]

Oh, boo hoo. I'm in the exact same situation as these folks, and I pay a FUCK of a lot more than $75/year for fire protection. Guess I should just save my money and expect them to put out a fire at my house anyways?

They can just bill you afterwards.

Yeah.

[UNI88]

Oh, boo hoo. I'm in the exact same situation as these folks, and I pay a **** of a lot more than $75/year for fire protection. Guess I should just save my money and expect them to put out a fire at my house anyways?

They can just bill you afterwards.

And if you don't pay the bill, do they come back and restart the fire?

[kalm]

THIS.

More to the point - not even that.

When we let a families home burn like this - we become no better than a 3rd world country. We are better people than this... to let someones home burn to the ground in the name of budget cuts... it's an outrage.

Fire protection, like police protection, should be universal.

Oh, boo hoo. I'm in the exact same situation as these folks, and I pay a FUCK of a lot more than $75/year for fire protection. Guess I should just save my money and expect them to put out a fire at my house anyways?

So you're more responsible than many. Would like a biscuit? You should be thankful you live in a country where this type of shit didn't use to happen. Put out the fucking fire and learn from the circumstances. Ingrate.

[travelinman67]

I don't know, maybe the family could be made to pay for all the years they didn't pay, fine them for another ten year's worth, and give the homeowners 75-100 hours of community service. I just can't fathom a fire department sitting there watching someone's life burn away when they can do something about it. Humanity > Money.

THIS.

More to the point - not even that.

When we let a families home burn like this - we become no better than a 3rd world country. We are better people than this... to let someones home burn to the ground in the name of budget cuts... it's an outrage.

Fire protection, like police protection, should be universal.

Agreed. This is a leadership failure both at the local and state level. By nature, most sworn public safety personnel are required to take reasonable action to protect life and property 24/7, regardless of jurisdiction. Whoever supervises these personnel and authorized the stand-down should be terminated and criminally prosecuted.

[mainejeff]

Tennessee is hardcore.

[AZGrizFan]

THIS.

More to the point - not even that.

When we let a families home burn like this - we become no better than a 3rd world country. We are better people than this... to let someones home burn to the ground in the name of budget cuts... it's an outrage.

Fire protection, like police protection, should be universal.

Agreed. This is a leadership failure both at the local and state level. By nature, most sworn public safety personnel are required to take reasonable action to protect life and property 24/7, regardless of jurisdiction. Whoever supervises these personnel and authorized the stand-down should be terminated and criminally prosecuted.

Great. Why don't you come be the fire chief for my county rural district so I can stop paying my bill.

[travelinman67]

Agreed. This is a leadership failure both at the local and state level. By nature, most sworn public safety personnel are required to take reasonable action to protect life and property 24/7, regardless of jurisdiction. Whoever supervises these personnel and authorized the stand-down should be terminated and criminally prosecuted.

Great. Why don't you come be the fire chief for my county rural district so I can stop paying my bill.

This is an old subject...

There are many ways to assess taxes and fees. Adding unpaid assessments onto property tax bills is one method. Creating special sales tax assessments is another. The methods are many. Local governemnt refusing to provide public safety services because a person fails to pay a direct billed $75 special assessment by an arbitrary due date goes against the fundamental mission of a Democratic government: To provide for the health and safety of it's citizens.

[HI54UNI]

Great. Why don't you come be the fire chief for my county rural district so I can stop paying my bill.

This is an old subject...

There are many ways to assess taxes and fees. Adding unpaid assessments onto property tax bills is one method. Creating special sales tax assessments is another. The methods are many. Local governemnt refusing to provide public safety services because a person fails to pay a direct billed $75 special assessment by an arbitrary due date goes against the fundamental mission of a Democratic government: To provide for the health and safety of it's citizens.

The problem is the CITY fire department doesn't have the ability to levy a tax assessment in the UNINCORPORATED area. So the residents of the unincorporated area have several choices. 1. Pay the $75 to the CITY. 2. Create a rural fire district and levy taxes to either a) contract with the city or b) purchase and operate their own equipment.

If they are too f'ing stupid to do that they deserve what they get.

[BlueHen86]

THIS.

More to the point - not even that.

When we let a families home burn like this - we become no better than a 3rd world country. We are better people than this... to let someones home burn to the ground in the name of budget cuts... it's an outrage.

Fire protection, like police protection, should be universal.

Agreed. This is a leadership failure both at the local and state level. By nature, most sworn public safety personnel are required to take reasonable action to protect life and property 24/7, regardless of jurisdiction. Whoever supervises these personnel and authorized the stand-down should be terminated and criminally prosecuted.

I could not disagree more. Putting the fire out sends the message that you don't have to pay the fee, good luck collecting the $75 from people in the future.

The homeowners chose to gamble with their home and lost, it sucks, but it was their choice.

If you want to place blame, blame the local politicians that put these people in that position. The fee should not be a choice, raise taxes the needed amount to pay the fire department and the problem is solved.

[travelinman67]

This is an old subject...

There are many ways to assess taxes and fees. Adding unpaid assessments onto property tax bills is one method. Creating special sales tax assessments is another. The methods are many. Local governemnt refusing to provide public safety services because a person fails to pay a direct billed $75 special assessment by an arbitrary due date goes against the fundamental mission of a Democratic government: To provide for the health and safety of it's citizens.

The problem is the CITY fire department doesn't have the ability to levy a tax assessment in the UNINCORPORATED area. So the residents of the unincorporated area have several choices. 1. Pay the $75 to the CITY. 2. Create a rural fire district and levy taxes to either a) contract with the city or b) purchase and operate their own equipment.

If they are too f'ing stupid to do that they deserve what they get.

Staying focused...the City has made the mistake of offering services on per-fee basis. It has to be by zone or region with the County contracting for those services and assuming the responsibility of collections. Many local agencies have contracted public safety services, but I've never seen it done on an address by address basis.

Either the City needs to decline services for the entire county, or make it by zone (sphere of influence). Let the county devise the method to collect via an alternative method within the unincorporated area.

BTW, Blue Hen...I'm not going to rebut your bait. If you truly believe what you wrote...

[BlueHen86]

The problem is the CITY fire department doesn't have the ability to levy a tax assessment in the UNINCORPORATED area. So the residents of the unincorporated area have several choices. 1. Pay the $75 to the CITY. 2. Create a rural fire district and levy taxes to either a) contract with the city or b) purchase and operate their own equipment.

If they are too f'ing stupid to do that they deserve what they get.

Staying focused...the City has made the mistake of offering services on per-fee basis. It has to be by zone or region with the County contracting for those services and assuming the responsibility of collections. Many local agencies have contracted public safety services, but I've never seen it done on an address by address basis.

Either the City needs to decline services for the entire county, or make it by zone (sphere of influence). Let the county devise the method to collect via an alternative method within the unincorporated area.

BTW, Blue Hen...I'm not going to rebut your bait. If you truly believe what you wrote...

It's the same concept as insurance. If insurance companies allowed you to add coverage after the accident or pre-existing condition, nobody won't get insurance ahead of time.
I'd fire the commander who put the fire out, unless he wants to reimburse the department out of his own pocket.

As long as no lives are at stake, which they weren't in this case, burn baby burn.

[OL FU]

That said, they could always perform their services and then bill the owners afterwards.

How does that work?

Like an ambulance. If they don't pay garnish or levy or put a lien on their property.

[dbackjon]

How does that work?

Like an ambulance. If they don't pay garnish or levy or put a lien on their property.

Welcome stranger!

[travelinman67]

How does that work?

Like an ambulance. If they don't pay garnish or levy or put a lien on their property.

Doh!!

I wasn't going to give 'em any more clues.

[AZGrizFan]

Great. Why don't you come be the fire chief for my county rural district so I can stop paying my bill.

This is an old subject...

There are many ways to assess taxes and fees. Adding unpaid assessments onto property tax bills is one method. Creating special sales tax assessments is another. The methods are many. Local governemnt refusing to provide public safety services because a person fails to pay a direct billed $75 special assessment by an arbitrary due date goes against the fundamental mission of a Democratic government: To provide for the health and safety of it's citizens.

Here's a hint for you, Barney Fife: The PRIVATE COMPANY that provides fire service to my unincorporated area has NO MECHANISM by which to "assess taxes" and is in no way, shape or form associated with Federal, State, County or City government.

They (Rural Metro) are a private entity, filling a need created by the fact that unincorporated areas do NOT have fire coverage from CITY fire departments.

So, you can cry in your handkerchief all you want regarding the need to "provide for the health and safety of it's citizens", but that does not apply in my case.

[CAA Flagship]

I wonder how much each resident would be taxed if the non-city folk decided to be covered as a whole. I'm thinking the FD came up with the $75 figure based on only a percentage of them paying. If all paid via taxes, it might be cheaper per resident.

[kalm]

Where's the county in all of this?

[89Hen]

How does that work?

Like an ambulance. If they don't pay garnish or levy or put a lien on their property.

Look who ducked in! OL, so would it be OK for the fire dept to tell the power company that they'll pay their bill once the receive payments from the people who's house is now fire damaged and has a lien on it?