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jerseypanda
Life is good.
Member since 1/07 9164 total posts
Name:
Amanda
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I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
I don't know... I find it disturbing that firefighters can actaully stand around and watch as a house burns to the ground.
Apparently this person lives outside the town limits and has to pay a yearly fee of $75 to be able to have service from the fire department. They paid it the last 2 years and neglected to pay it this year. Now their home has burned to the ground.
Maybe someone has a better argument, but I just don't see it as right. Can't they just charge the people after they put the fire out? Apparently the neighbor who has paid the fee offered to pay $500 to have them put out the fire and they just said "it's too late". 
Sad world we live in when you can't get emergency help when you need it because you didn't pay a fee.
Home burns while firefighters watch
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Posted 10/5/10 7:43 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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Celt
~~~~~~~~~~
Member since 4/08 7758 total posts
Name:
colette
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
This was the odd part about that story:
"When a household has not paid the fee, firefighters are required by law to not respond."
I don't get it, what if there were PEOPLE in there, maybe even CHILDREN??? Another article mentioned his 3 dogs and a cat perished, that is just awful
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| Posted 10/5/10 7:49 PM |
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SweetTooth
I'm a tired mommy!
Member since 12/05 20105 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
There has to be more to this story. The people who don't live in this area have no fire protection? They don't pay taxes?
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| Posted 10/5/10 8:04 PM |
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KLSbear
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 1908 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
Posted by SweetTooth
There has to be more to this story. The people who don't live in this area have no fire protection? They don't pay taxes?
Some areas don't have tax-funded fire protection, it's a fee you pay. My parents had to pay a separate fee for fire protection services in one town in Arizona when they lived there.
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| Posted 10/5/10 8:09 PM |
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pandaworm
LIF Adult
Member since 8/08 1125 total posts
Name:
bethany
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
maybe it has to do with insurance, ie the fire fighters aren't covered in the event that something goes wrong, the homeowner sues, etc...
still not right.
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| Posted 10/5/10 8:12 PM |
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MrsH2009
Thank you St. Gerard!
Member since 8/09 6631 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
What about the Good Samaritan law though? This seems to go against that.
For example, if I give someone CPR and break their rib I am not covered by insurance, but they can't sue me if I acted in good faith.
Message edited 10/5/2010 8:14:48 PM.
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| Posted 10/5/10 8:13 PM |
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Christine
2nd verse same as the 1st
Member since 5/05 15287 total posts
Name:
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
Posted by MrsH2009
What about the Good Samaritan law though? This seems to go against that.
For example, if I give someone CPR and break their rib I am not covered by insurance, but they can't sue me if I acted in good faith.
I don't see how that applies here unless a firefighter was in the area and turned a hose on the fire and got injured. The firefighters were prohibited by law to take the trucks and fight the fire.
Message edited 10/5/2010 8:18:40 PM.
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| Posted 10/5/10 8:18 PM |
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Sweetlax22
LIF Adult
Member since 5/10 1904 total posts
Name:
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
This is one of those times I am glad I pay high Long Island taxes.....what A ridiculous set up!
But.... I also see the other side , why would anyone pay if they know they are going to get the same protection paid-up or not?
Hopefully this is a wake-up call to both the people who have to make sure they pay, and the local government who need to think of a better way to do things. This could have been more of a tragedy!
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| Posted 10/5/10 8:19 PM |
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Mommy2Boys
My Boys!!!!
Member since 6/06 14437 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
Posted by Sweetlax22
This is one of those times I am glad I pay high Long Island taxes.....what A ridiculous set up!
Don't think your taxes buy your safety.
We have an alarm on our house and 1 times in 4 years our alarm went off by accident (bad storm and a tree branch must have hit the window just the right way) and we werent home. The police came to check it out. A few weeks later we got a letter in the mail with a notice saying we needed to pay a fee to the county for our alarm and for the police dept/fire dept. to respond to it. If I did not pay the fee, I would be placed on the do not respond list if my alarm went off.
Our alarm company never mentioned that we needed this.
Honestly with all the taxes I pay and the salaries of the cops on LI, I think the least they could do is respond to my alarm if my alarm company cannot get intouch with me to verify it.
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| Posted 10/5/10 8:25 PM |
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Sweetlax22
LIF Adult
Member since 5/10 1904 total posts
Name:
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
Posted by jellybean1420
Posted by Sweetlax22
This is one of those times I am glad I pay high Long Island taxes.....what A ridiculous set up!
Don't think your taxes buy your safety.
We have an alarm on our house and 1 times in 4 years our alarm went off by accident (bad storm and a tree branch must have hit the window just the right way) and we werent home. The police came to check it out. A few weeks later we got a letter in the mail with a notice saying we needed to pay a fee to the county for our alarm and for the police dept/fire dept. to respond to it. If I did not pay the fee, I would be placed on the do not respond list if my alarm went off.
Our alarm company never mentioned that we needed this.
Honestly with all the taxes I pay and the salaries of the cops on LI, I think the least they could do is respond to my alarm if my alarm company cannot get intouch with me to verify it.
I think they have to do this becasue there are people who do not care and their alarms would be going off 24/7, not minding that the police/fire have to keep using their resources. I knew they charged but I did not realize for the first time, I don't think that is fair either. It is people like you who get punished becasue of the actions of other people (nothing more annoying).
And at least they came to you first and then billed you, I'm sure the people who had their house burn down would have been happy to pay the bill after the fact.
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| Posted 10/5/10 8:35 PM |
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MrsH2009
Thank you St. Gerard!
Member since 8/09 6631 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
Posted by Christine
Posted by MrsH2009
What about the Good Samaritan law though? This seems to go against that.
For example, if I give someone CPR and break their rib I am not covered by insurance, but they can't sue me if I acted in good faith.
I don't see how that applies here unless a firefighter was in the area and turned a hose on the fire and got injured. The firefighters were prohibited by law to take the trucks and fight the fire.
B/c a pp said they wouldn't be covered by insurance.
Also if I shower up at an emergency room and had never paid taxes in my life, they would still treat me.
Message edited 10/5/2010 9:07:48 PM.
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| Posted 10/5/10 9:06 PM |
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Christine
2nd verse same as the 1st
Member since 5/05 15287 total posts
Name:
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
Posted by MrsH2009
Posted by Christine
Posted by MrsH2009
What about the Good Samaritan law though? This seems to go against that.
For example, if I give someone CPR and break their rib I am not covered by insurance, but they can't sue me if I acted in good faith.
I don't see how that applies here unless a firefighter was in the area and turned a hose on the fire and got injured. The firefighters were prohibited by law to take the trucks and fight the fire.
B/c a pp said they wouldn't be covered by insurance.
Also if I shower up at an emergency room and had never paid taxes in my life, they would still treat me.
If some fireman did help out, the good Samaritan law would protect him from the homeowner suing him but how would a fire fighter even be in that position? It's not as though he'd be cruising the area in a fire truck. Also, if the firefighter was injured putting out a fire he is not allowed to respond to, what happens with regards to the insurance provided by the fire dept? The GS law would only prevent the homeowner from suing but it may put the coverage/benefits from his job in jeopardy since he would be breaking the law by responding to the fire.
There is a law that you would have to be treated in an ER. In this instance, the law states the fire department cannot respond to the fire.
I think this is a horrible situation and wish there was a way for all families to automatically pay this fee or put in a gross penalty or charge to fight the fire in an instance like this. But to lose everything because you forgot to write a check is just heart breaking.
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| Posted 10/5/10 9:27 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
I'm not saying I agree with this. There should be a better way to collect these funds so no one is put in this kind of position. This is not the first time this has happened either, I've read of these stories over the years.
However, fire trucks don't pay for themselves. Neither does training, coats, boots, tools, gas, etc. They need to pay for all the things they use to keep people safe somehow. Although I think this is one of those things that you should not leave up to the homeowner, I'm sure there are plenty of people who figure "It will never happen to me" and don't pay to just save money.
If homeowners are not happy about the system, they should fight to change it or pay the fee. So that they're not in this position, knowing full well that the FD won't help them in case of an emergency. If I forget to lock my door when I leave my house and I get robbed, I have blame in that situation too.
I'm not convinced that all those people who didn't pay would pay afterwards either. Fact is, there are a lot of people in the world who only do what is required of them and will just take everything they can get.
All in all, the whole thing sucks and it makes me appreciate the system we have here even more.
Message edited 10/6/2010 8:11:08 AM.
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| Posted 10/6/10 8:07 AM |
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1stimemom
Love my boys
Member since 2/08 8766 total posts
Name:
Mrs Dee
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
Screw the legalities or whatever. It is horrible and wrong
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| Posted 10/6/10 8:10 AM |
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VeeJay
Love baby feet
Member since 2/09 2894 total posts
Name:
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
I saw this on the news this morning. I find it just so disturbing that they could just stand around and watch.
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| Posted 10/6/10 8:26 AM |
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MrsA714
Baby #2 is here!
Member since 8/07 8806 total posts
Name:
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
Posted by jellybean1420
Posted by Sweetlax22
This is one of those times I am glad I pay high Long Island taxes.....what A ridiculous set up!
Don't think your taxes buy your safety.
We have an alarm on our house and 1 times in 4 years our alarm went off by accident (bad storm and a tree branch must have hit the window just the right way) and we werent home. The police came to check it out. A few weeks later we got a letter in the mail with a notice saying we needed to pay a fee to the county for our alarm and for the police dept/fire dept. to respond to it. If I did not pay the fee, I would be placed on the do not respond list if my alarm went off.
Our alarm company never mentioned that we needed this.
Honestly with all the taxes I pay and the salaries of the cops on LI, I think the least they could do is respond to my alarm if my alarm company cannot get intouch with me to verify it.
My mother lives in LI too and same thing happened to her. She had no idea that she had to pay an annual fee and the woman she spoke to at the precinct was so rude and said if she didn't pay, they wouldn't come next time the alarm went off. She obviously payed it but come on...so if she's behind on payment and someone breaks in to her home and the alarm goes off I guess they'll have to check their books first to see if she paid before deciding whether or not they'll send someone   . I guess that's what 10K+ in taxes gets you 
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| Posted 10/6/10 8:34 AM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
Posted by 1stimemom
Screw the legalities or whatever. It is horrible and wrong
Agreed and it needs fixing.
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| Posted 10/6/10 8:51 AM |
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JenMarie
One day at a time
Member since 11/07 7397 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
Posted by jellybean1420
Don't think your taxes buy your safety.
We have an alarm on our house and 1 times in 4 years our alarm went off by accident (bad storm and a tree branch must have hit the window just the right way) and we werent home. The police came to check it out. A few weeks later we got a letter in the mail with a notice saying we needed to pay a fee to the county for our alarm and for the police dept/fire dept. to respond to it. If I did not pay the fee, I would be placed on the do not respond list if my alarm went off.
Our alarm company never mentioned that we needed this.
Honestly with all the taxes I pay and the salaries of the cops on LI, I think the least they could do is respond to my alarm if my alarm company cannot get intouch with me to verify it.
Having an alarm system is an additional service. Do you know how many times people accidentally set off their alarm and the cops have to take the time to respond? That has to be paid for somehow. Shame on your alarm company for not providing you with the forms and notifying you about the annual fee. That's actually why a lot of people just have the siren setup without having it go to the PD/FD.
This story makes me grateful for the system we have in place here. I don't agree at all with the system they have in place where this occurred. But do you know how many people abuse FD services? It costs a lot of money to keep a FD up and running. That has to be paid for somehow, and if they let one house skip payment, many more would. Low funds means old equipment, less firefighters, etc. And those things equal danger.
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| Posted 10/6/10 9:36 AM |
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Bearcat
Love my little girls!!! <3
Member since 6/10 10818 total posts
Name:
E
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
the law is what it is. i find it disturbing, but...
in any event i got the impression that they "stood around to watch" because the fire was beyond control, not because they didn't want to help?
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| Posted 10/6/10 9:42 AM |
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Otherme
Square head cutie pants
Member since 3/06 6899 total posts
Name:
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
when i first saw this story i wasn't sure how i felt
yes, its horrible that the house burned down while the firefighters watched. yes, its sad that it happened needlessly. But the firefighters were bound by law to not fight the fire.
On the other hand, the homeowner knew full well that the $75 needed to be paid in order to get fire protection. So, his calling up at the time of the fire and saying he'd pay if they come out doesn't help the situation any - that's like saying, oh i'll only pay the $75 fee if i need it. so the firefighters don't get new equipment, the trucks don't stay maintained etc because no one pays the fee, thinking oh, it won't happen to me
so, hopefully this is a wake up call to people in areas who have this fee, to just pay the $75 and not take that kind of chance with their lives and property.
I do wonder what would have happened if someone was trapped inside the fire though.. would they have stood by and let someone die? I would hope not
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| Posted 10/6/10 9:48 AM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
Posted by MrsH2009
What about the Good Samaritan law though? This seems to go against that.
For example, if I give someone CPR and break their rib I am not covered by insurance, but they can't sue me if I acted in good faith.
First, yes they can sue you. They might not win, but they certainly can sue you. The Good Samaritan law doesn't protect anyone from getting sued.
Second, the Good Samaritan law doesn't protect paid professionals. Unless this was an entirely volunteer fire unit, the law doesn't apply.
Third, this story is deeply disturbing. I just cannot imagine letting someone's home burn down over $75.
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| Posted 10/6/10 9:52 AM |
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heathergirl
Cocktail Time!
Member since 10/08 4978 total posts
Name:
American mouth
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
Posted by 1stimemom
Screw the legalities or whatever. It is horrible and wrong
I agree. How could a firefighter sleep at night knowing he didn't help put out a fire if there were people inside? It's a tragedy enough that the animals weren't saved
I actually think its sick.
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| Posted 10/6/10 9:56 AM |
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sometimesmommy
Always in my heart.....
Member since 11/06 6686 total posts
Name:
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
Disgusting. I get the logistics but come on. Common sense says there is a fire and needs to be put out. Thats just like hospitals that treat patients with govt plans differently than those with private health insurance.
People need to do whats morally right not just whats on paper.
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| Posted 10/6/10 9:57 AM |
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Sash
Peace
Member since 6/08 10312 total posts
Name:
fka LIW Smara
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
three puppies died, so horrible
I think it horrible but if the Law says they cant help, wont they be at risk of losing their jobs?
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| Posted 10/6/10 10:08 AM |
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SofiaBella
LIF Adolescent
Member since 5/07 785 total posts
Name:
Vanessa
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
I found this disgusting. As human beings how can you just stand there & watch someone's house burn to the ground & animals die.
They only responded because they were protecting the neighbors house (he paid his fee). They couldn't just turn the hose to the left. C'mon.
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| Posted 10/6/10 10:13 AM |
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