Posted on 01/16/2004 4:32:24 PM PST by mylife
you're absolutely correct. It should be the most accurate considering how it employs sattelite triangulation to find you.
Human error is still the missing link in eliminating error, and they will happen.
But that doesn't excuse those feckers from putting out a fire. I just can't believe that was a top-down order to not put it out.
This probab;y is not a union issue. It's probably because of a lack of a mutual aid agreement between the two fire departments. In Washington State, these agreements provide such broad-ranging coverage that this type of incident could never happen. Fire fighters would respond and take action even if the call came from two cities away.
Yes, there is. This has been settled. First time I saw such a thing was at least 20 years ago, and it was a beaut. Turned out that house was in no fire district at all. All his neighbors were, but district boundary lines went around. Everyone was surprised, and there was much reading of legal descriptions, but the decision stood.
No they're not. No fire department puts out fires outside their Jurisdiction. Fire fighting is extremely dangerous. No one demands that fire fighters risk their lives when it's not their responsibility. Remember these's guys made sure everyone was safe. But it's not their job to risk their lives to protect property outside their jurisdiction. And the "brave NY 9/11 firefighters" would have done exactly the same thing. Because the Firefighters on 9/11 didn't enter those towers to protect someone's D$@% property. They enter to save lives and you are wrong to compare these two events.
Fails the laugh test: so they just stand around and watch it burn, doing nothing except blocking the way for other fire trucks?
Behold the power of government services: it's not only not in my job description (the union response) but it's legally prohibited for me to assist you (the government response). So, I'll just stand around, maybe order a pizza or some popcorn and watch. Say, there's a fire here; anyone bring marshmallows?
You got that right. Where was the pre-planning for such an event.
and I've only cared about issues like this for only 5-6yrs now
Yes, and make sure the fire doesn't spread to property in their district of responsibility. Nobody is laughing.
Where did you hear that. I used to do it all the time. First truck in was always the attack pumper...regardless of who arrived first.
BULL
The wrong fire department was dispatched because they used a cell phone and the dispatcher made a mistake. This wasn't a choice, it was a tragic error. I could see your point if the fire department that had jurisdiction was correctly dispatched and they bungled the job, but that isn't the case. A mistake was made by the dispatcher and the firefighters had an obligation to at least start fighting the fire until the correct department arrived. This is a travesty.
These sort of petty boundary squabbles are common and wrong. I used to be a firefighter, and we NEVER would have stood by and watched. Mutual aid agreements are a necessity to avoid such occurrances. But even in the absence of an agreement, they should have just done the job they were mistakenly called by another authority to do and argued about it later. I'm certain the other department would have reciprocated if a call had come in when they were engaged "out of their territory".
They could make sure it wouldn't spread by putting it out.
"I'm sorry, sir, could you repeat that credit card number and expiration date again? And for verification purposes, please state the billing zipcode and the last four digits of your social security number."
Compare that kind of service to that received from social services, getting a driver's license, or going to court. (Sorry, docket's full for two years.)
I never had a homeowner complain because my engine company was a block or two outside our jurisdiction.
Actually firefighters often sit there and watch someone's livelihood burn. When it's too dangerous, or as in this case outside their jurisdiction.
Radcliff wants these guys to risk their lives to protect his property. But he does not want to pay for the fire department. He decided to live where they have a volunteer fire department. And I'm sure he was happy to pay less in taxes for it. Well he got what he paid for.
Well, yeah. That does happen, too. Municipal GIS is weeding out those problems and there were a lot like that before GIS.
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