Posted on 10/03/2010 5:28:40 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
Gene and Paulette Cranick, of South Fulton, Tennessee, US, lost their home after officers were ordered by bosses not to extinguish it.
Fire fighters only arrived when the flames spread to the property of a neighbour, who had paid the fee. However, they continued to refuse to help the Cranicks.
Later the same day, the couple's 44-year-old son was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, after allegedly punching the local fire chief.
Jeff Vowell, the city manager of South Fulton, said: "It's a regrettable situation any time something like this happens." Mr Vowell explained that there was no county-wide fire service and it was too expensive for the city's officers to serve surrounding rural areas like the Cranicks' as well.
Rural residents can gain access to the service by paying the annual fee. But "if they choose not to," Mr Vowell said, "we can't make them".
Mr Cranick said: "I thought they'd come out and put it out, even if you hadn't paid your $75, but I was wrong." His wife said the couple had offered to pay the fire fighters whatever was necessary for them to extinguish the flames, but the officers refused.
However they do not blame the officers themselves, she said. "They're doing what they are told to do. It's not their fault." The Mayor of South Fulton, David Crocker, told local reporters: "We're very sorry their house burned."
However he too stood by the subscription policy, arguing that offering a pay-as-you-go service would mean upfront costs could not be met.
About three hours after the fire began, Mr Cranick's son Timothy allegedly arrived at the South Fulton fire station.
It is alleged that when Mr Wilds came forward and asked if he could help, Mr Cranick punched him. "He just cold-cocked him," Mr Crocker
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
That would be a commonsense approach.
I agree.
This sounds like something right out of ancient Rome, where the fire squads, which were privately owned, would show up and stand around until the building owner paid up a hefty price, or else deeded the burning property over to the owner of the private fire squad - at a fire-sale price, if you will.
I would comment with what I’m really thinking, but it’d probably get me arrested by the union/socialist thought police.
That was actually my quote.
I live in the county. The closest firehouse to me is in town. It has a paid 24/7 force. Town taxes pay for that house and its force. I do not pay town taxes. However, that house and force have offered to cover my place for a nominal fee. I gladly pay that fee. Those that choose not to, have no reason to expect that coverage. If a neighbor is having a problem, myself and the folks that live around me come on the run. But there is no way we could match up to a professional (or volunteer) department.
....and Yup. They are nice respectable country folk.
That’s interesting, do you know what island? I’ve never heard of a government subsidized taxi service in Maine, but don’t’ doubt it is possible.
Yep that is the way it is in rural areas. I pay 35.00 a year for service. These people wanted something for free. They probably had no homeowners insurance either. They were too cheap to pay thier 75.00.
In my view this is what limited government is about. I used to own a home that had heat induced sprinkler heads in every room including the attic and on the roofs of all the buildings. It was on a road that fire trucks couldn’t handle.
I would not have paid for this fire fee either. Why pay if you don’t need it.? This man needed it and didn’t pay so the result was he lost his house.
The fire insurance on my house was $245 a year because of the system I had built in.
I wasn’t there so I don’t know.
Wild guess -- it was some Green Grant to encourage people to leave their carbon-emitting car at home and instead rely on some "common usage" transportation like a taxi service. That type of government assistance has become very common lately.
>The fire insurance on my house was $245 a year because of the system I had built in.<
The home insurance on my house was $245 a year because of the system I had built in.
“C’mon people. It’s not that hard to understand. “
What is hard to understand are professionals who are sworn to protect the public from danger and calamity sitting on their butts watching a house burn because someone didn’t pay $75.
Can I buy government flood insurance after the floods destroy my house?
They should have put the fire out, after the homeowner signed a contract to pay the full cost.>>>>>>>>>>>
You got it! 1000$ to put it out.
Good question
this is extortion pure and simple
In cases such as this why couldn’t the fire dept perform the requested service for a much larger fee then file a lien on the property if the homeowner doesn’t pay?
Having a full fire company watching a citizen’s house burn runs contrary to their oath.
If the Tea Party means anything, it means that the free rides are over: for everyone.
I am an insurance adjuster, but I’m not familiar with that. I looked through some policies for various farm coverages and didn’t find any clauses to that effect.
There are a lot of unique policies when you get into small companies and farm/rural coverages, so I won’t pretend to know all the variations.
I am in rural SW Missouri. I pay just under $1,000/year on $135,000 coverage. It would be significantly less if we were in a town with a fire department.
They have an oath?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.