Do other jurisdictions have the same policy?

[mtlogcabin]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39516346/ns/us_news-life/

 

[ccbuilding]

Wow - so does the ambulance have the same policy? How about the police? Nice way to get revenue. Unreal.

 

[Builder Bob]

Not very common, but still exists in Rural USA...... Basically, why provide a free service if you aren't paid for it. Not any different than you having a business and requiring payment up front for your services.

This area does not have a tax based milage for fire service - the City raises revenue by "contracting" services outside the city limits.

This has been in existance for a very long time ----- Benjamin Franklin days to be exact

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-fire-insurance-mark-marker-sign-plaque#

 

[fatboy]

Yeah, WOW! I would almost think that would go against all that a FF stands for.

 

[texas transplant]

Our City had a contract with the county to provide fire fighting in a certain area of the county. County cut the fee out of their budget this year and we have stopped responding to the calls in that area.

I know it seems cruel to let a home burn, but the service was available for $75.00 per year and the family chose not to pay it. They made their own choice. Another angle to this is a lot of insurance companies for municipal corporations will not pay if a fire fighter or policeman etc. are injured or killed responding to a call that is outside the jurisdication unless an agreement is in place or mutal aid has been requested in the appropriate way. So what happens if a fire fighter is killed or injured fighting this fire, who takes care of the fire fighters family and health care cost.

Its a cold cold world out there, but this country is becoming more legalistic and sue happy and that happens to drive the decsions made all so often. If legal battles were decided on spirit and intent of the law with common sense being applied liberally, rather than laws being disected in the way that makes money for cheaters, liars and lawyers, things might be different.

 

[Builder Bob]

It does go against what I believe in, however, the truth of the matter is that it costs money to drive and operate the big red trucks ---- At one Volunteer FD I was at, we use to take up collections to buy the next tank of fuel for big red and do fund raisers ---- This day and age, it takes to much time away from your primary job to do these types of activiies today- Today's work places are not as tolerent as they were when times were good.

Very valid point - TT (Happy B-day also)

 

[fatboy]

All valid points BB and TT.......puts in in a different light, thanks. Particularly the point about insurance covering a casualty, when you should have responded i the first place.

 

[texas transplant]

Thanks for the birthday wishes BB.

I also thought of another instance near the midwest town I use to live in about 25 years ago. A subdivision was annexed by the city except one homeowner did not wish to be annexed (he could avoid annexation because he was on the fringe of the subdivision and would not be wholly surrounded by the city after the annexation) and have to pay city taxes. In the meantime the city (full time paid) and county (volunteer) fire services mutal aid agreement expired and both sides were being pig headed about the terms of renewal. This one home (outside the city but almost surrounded by the city limits) caught on fire, the volunteers took almost 25 minutes to respond and without a mutal aid agreement in place the city department sat in the road out front and watched the house burn while making sure it didn't spread to the next door neighbor's homes (who were in the city).

The city and the fire chief lost the public opinion trial in the newspaper for this decision, but won the lawsuit over the issue about 4 years later.