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Pray4Baby2010
<3 Cutest Giants Fan
Member since 10/09 5796 total posts
Name:
MB
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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 so sad- I understand them having the $75 fee- you would just think in the event that someone didnt pay it that they could just heavily fine them- like $5000 to put the fire out and just do it- I'm sure the homeowners lost far more than that- and who even knows if their home owner's insurance will cover it since they didnt pay the fire company fee. Its a shame 
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Posted 10/6/10 10:15 AM  |
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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 wondering what the insurance/mortgage companies say about this.
If they had a mortgage... I'm surprised the mortgage company doesn't escrow this charge as protection.
I guess the reason they said its too late is because otherwise no one would pay until they needed it.
I feel bad for them, but they apparently knew the risk. If money was an issue there should be some sort of program to help people in need.
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As a side note - I worked with someone who lived in AZ - she said that you have to pay to get an ambulance if you don't have insurance - I guess its just services we take for granted or pay for in a different way.
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| Posted 10/6/10 10:25 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 Pray4Baby2010
this is so sad- I understand them having the $75 fee- you would just think in the event that someone didnt pay it that they could just heavily fine them- like $5000 to put the fire out and just do it- I'm sure the homeowners lost far more than that- and who even knows if their home owner's insurance will cover it since they didnt pay the fire company fee. Its a shame
If they didn't pay the $75 fee, what makes you think they'll definitely pay a fee afterwards?
If I don't pay my homeowners insurance and my house burns down, should my insurance company still pay for it because they feel bad?
The firefighters were bound by law to not respond. They probably got there too late to do anything by the time the neighbors called for protection of their own home. But even if it had been early enough to do something, because the law says they can't respond, they wouldn't be covered by insurance. One of our local departments had FOUR firefighters injured recently. It happens. Without insurance, who is going to cover their salaries and medical bills? It's sick that that city in TN has this system, and hopefully the publicity of this story will help to change it, but I can't see how the firefighters themselves are to blame.
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| Posted 10/6/10 10:33 AM |
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Pray4Baby2010
<3 Cutest Giants Fan
Member since 10/09 5796 total posts
Name:
MB
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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 JenMarie
Posted by Pray4Baby2010
this is so sad- I understand them having the $75 fee- you would just think in the event that someone didnt pay it that they could just heavily fine them- like $5000 to put the fire out and just do it- I'm sure the homeowners lost far more than that- and who even knows if their home owner's insurance will cover it since they didnt pay the fire company fee. Its a shame
If they didn't pay the $75 fee, what makes you think they'll definitely pay a fee afterwards?
If I don't pay my homeowners insurance and my house burns down, should my insurance company still pay for it because they feel bad?
The firefighters were bound by law to not respond. They probably got there too late to do anything by the time the neighbors called for protection of their own home. But even if it had been early enough to do something, because the law says they can't respond, they wouldn't be covered by insurance. One of our local departments had FOUR firefighters injured recently. It happens. Without insurance, who is going to cover their salaries and medical bills? It's sick that that city in TN has this system, and hopefully the publicity of this story will help to change it, but I can't see how the firefighters themselves are to blame.
I didnt blame the firefighters 
I also think that you are inferring that the firefighter's insurance wouldnt cover them if they fought the fire and something happened- I didnt see that anywhere in the article.
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| Posted 10/6/10 10:45 AM |
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Sunday
In love with a boy named Luca
Member since 6/09 1799 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 JenMarie
Posted by Pray4Baby2010
this is so sad- I understand them having the $75 fee- you would just think in the event that someone didnt pay it that they could just heavily fine them- like $5000 to put the fire out and just do it- I'm sure the homeowners lost far more than that- and who even knows if their home owner's insurance will cover it since they didnt pay the fire company fee. Its a shame
If they didn't pay the $75 fee, what makes you think they'll definitely pay a fee afterwards?
If I don't pay my homeowners insurance and my house burns down, should my insurance company still pay for it because they feel bad?
The firefighters were bound by law to not respond. They probably got there too late to do anything by the time the neighbors called for protection of their own home. But even if it had been early enough to do something, because the law says they can't respond, they wouldn't be covered by insurance. One of our local departments had FOUR firefighters injured recently. It happens. Without insurance, who is going to cover their salaries and medical bills? It's sick that that city in TN has this system, and hopefully the publicity of this story will help to change it, but I can't see how the firefighters themselves are to blame.
I understand your response but I think you're taking about bureaucracy while the other poster is talking about humanitarianism.
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| Posted 10/6/10 10:58 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 Pray4Baby2010
I didnt blame the firefighters
I also think that you are inferring that the firefighter's insurance wouldnt cover them if they fought the fire and something happened- I didnt see that anywhere in the article.
Sorry, I didn't mean you specifically. I should have clarified that. Only my first paragraph was in response to your post. Even just the headlines of this story puts blame on the firefighters.
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| Posted 10/6/10 11:02 AM |
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jerseypanda
Life is good.
Member since 1/07 9164 total posts
Name:
Amanda
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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 JenMarie
Posted by Pray4Baby2010
I didnt blame the firefighters
I also think that you are inferring that the firefighter's insurance wouldnt cover them if they fought the fire and something happened- I didnt see that anywhere in the article.
Sorry, I didn't mean you specifically. I should have clarified that. Only my first paragraph was in response to your post. Even just the headlines of this story puts blame on the firefighters.
When you watch the video that is attached to the news article, it states that the homeowners called 911 as soon as the fire started. They would not even send them to the home because they did not pay the $75 fee.
I find it disturbing that when an emergency call is placed, they are checking a list to see if you qualify for services. People's lives could be at risk. I find it hard to believe that this is the only solution for areas like this. Take out the laws, what about compassion and human kindness?
The only reason the firefighters even showed up is because the neighbor (who had paid) called to say he was concerned that the fire would spread to his home. And once they got there, they watched the house burn.
Here's what I am having the hardest time wrapping my brain around: OK, the law is what it is...... as a firefighter, someone who takes a job to stop fires, to save lives, to prevent destruction, how can you sleep at night watching a house burn? Shouldn't they be looking for other ways to solve this problem?
What if the fire department never came and other houses burned? 3 dogs died in the fire.
The whole thing is just crazy to me.
ETA: I guess my point is that while it's not the fire fighters fault that the law is what it is, I don't understand how, in good conscious, they can just watch a fire burn down a house and kill animals without doing something.
Message edited 10/6/2010 11:14:48 AM.
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| Posted 10/6/10 11:13 AM |
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Momma2Be
Mommy of an angel
Member since 10/09 5911 total posts
Name:
Dina
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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 jerseypanda
I find it disturbing that when an emergency call is placed, they are checking a list to see if you qualify for services. People's lives could be at risk. I find it hard to believe that this is the only solution for areas like this. Take out the laws, what about compassion and human kindness?
ITA. What if it were 3 children in the house and not dogs? Would they have stood around and let them die over $75? And what if the fire got out of control and spread to neighboring houses (that did pay the fee)? Would they be liable for the damage since they didn't contain the fire when they could have? What an awful example of how bureaucracy trumps humanitarianism. Yes, I understand that they are 'legally bound' but just because something is a law, doesn't always make it right. That poor family and those poor little animals
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| Posted 10/6/10 2:47 PM |
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Mrs213
????????
Member since 2/09 18986 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
If it's all about money why couldn't they just put out the fire and then bill the guy for their services. They were already there. How terrible...
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| Posted 10/6/10 6:54 PM |
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springchick
make a wish
Member since 5/08 3566 total posts
Name:
justask
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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 just plain horrible, I agree that they should had do something and then fine the homeowners.. Can you imagine if someone was inside trap, would they just let them die too??
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| Posted 10/6/10 7:08 PM |
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Ladybug63
Ohh... baby
Member since 5/06 2527 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: I find this disturbing... firefighters watch house burn down b/c homeowner didn't pay annual $75 fee
I think it’s the homeowners responsibility to protect themselves.
The homeowner is/was fully aware that he is required to pay a fee however nominal it may be in order for the local fire department to be dispatched.
In the event that a fireman was injured or killed he would not be covered for medical bills etc. by the department.
What if they went in out of good faith and in doing so damaged the house and its contents? The homeowner could sue him. I don't think the good faith law protects against property. I believe it’s for life threatening instances. (I could be wrong thou)
It’s terrible that this happened but I do not believe it is the fireman’s fault or anyone else’s for that matter other than the homeowner.
The department most likely has a computer database where when they receive a call they enter the address and it probably stated that they are not "covered" among other information like the number of children in the home, flammable gas ie. propane etc.
ETA: I forgot to state that I think these types of services be it Fire, Police, Ambulance etc. should be provided by the state through property taxes etc. The system they have set up is disgraceful. This man never should have lost his home or his animals! It will now cost "us" more $ through insurance premiums hikes etc. Perhaps the fire department should be able to collect these funds for dues, fines due to failure to pay dues or the cost of them responding from his insurance company.
I do wonder if there were people in the home what the law allows them to do.
Message edited 10/6/2010 8:44:14 PM.
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| Posted 10/6/10 7:43 PM |
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RocPin
Life's Beachy <3
Member since 2/08 6765 total posts
Name:
Heather
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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 jerseypanda
When you watch the video that is attached to the news article, it states that the homeowners called 911 as soon as the fire started. They would not even send them to the home because they did not pay the $75 fee.
I find it disturbing that when an emergency call is placed, they are checking a list to see if you qualify for services. People's lives could be at risk. I find it hard to believe that this is the only solution for areas like this. Take out the laws, what about compassion and human kindness?
The only reason the firefighters even showed up is because the neighbor (who had paid) called to say he was concerned that the fire would spread to his home. And once they got there, they watched the house burn.
Here's what I am having the hardest time wrapping my brain around: OK, the law is what it is...... as a firefighter, someone who takes a job to stop fires, to save lives, to prevent destruction, how can you sleep at night watching a house burn? Shouldn't they be looking for other ways to solve this problem?
What if the fire department never came and other houses burned? 3 dogs died in the fire.
The whole thing is just crazy to me.
ETA: I guess my point is that while it's not the fire fighters fault that the law is what it is, I don't understand how, in good conscious, they can just watch a fire burn down a house and kill animals without doing something.
Yep, I agree. Its very disturbing no matter how you slice it.
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| Posted 10/6/10 8:26 PM |
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