House Burns Down, Pets Die While Fireman Watch

[hairlesswookiee]

They should've put it out and then charged him the $75.00 PLUS $1,000 penalty or even more......

BUT PUT OUT THE DAMN FIRE!

Sheesh

Last I checked we are still humans!

What's next in this country, before they extricate you from your smashed up car they first check to see if you paid!

I know right. Or just send them the FULL bill for what it cost to perform the job.

 

[ProgMatinee]

You have to pay for firefighters in america

firefighters just appear from magic fairy dust in the uk?

 

[a-dev]

We could talk about how some socialized government programs like fire protection are a good thing and how tragic an illustration it is when we see our fire protection services acting like the health care industry, but what kills me about this story is that the fire fighters sat in their trucks as the 3 dogs in the house burned alive.

Being a dog person this whole thing gets me worked up. I mean, I used to think fire fighters were heroes but these guys are just a bunch of spray-for-pay whores. Personally, if I was minding my business and had the power, training and tools to save the lives of 3 dogs, not to mention the cat and the house, and did nothing I would be a rotten human being. I would not have stood by and watched. I could not have done nothing. The house, well, they have insurance, but the dogs should not be allowed to die like that.

Thats what upsets me about this too. Wheres the basic human compassion. Those animals died a horrible death and they felt the agonising pain just like a human would.

 

[BadMoon]

We could talk about how some socialized government programs like fire protection are a good thing and how tragic an illustration it is when we see our fire protection services acting like the health care industry, but what kills me about this story is that the fire fighters sat in their trucks as the 3 dogs in the house burned alive.

Being a dog person this whole thing gets me worked up. I mean, I used to think fire fighters were heroes but these guys are just a bunch of spray-for-pay whores. Personally, if I was minding my business and had the power, training and tools to save the lives of 3 dogs, not to mention the cat and the house, and did nothing I would be a rotten human being. I would not have stood by and watched. I could not have done nothing. The house, well, they have insurance, but the dogs should not be allowed to die like that.

I would bet you dont know shat about the healthcare industry. You can't compare the two. Totally different beasts.

 

[Deeznutz6]

You have to pay for firefighters in america

Capitalism at its greatest

 

[ebor]

WOW, I'm glad to be Canadian. Pay lots of taxes, but WOW.

I guess when the yearly tax assesments come in you should read the fine print.

 

[EVILFACE]

He should have paid his dues.

 

[Deeznutz6]

He should have paid his dues.

Even if he hadnt, these ass hats could have at least tried to save the animals.

 

[Khev]

The privatized fire service stated that if they let people lapse and then only pay during the 1 in 10,000 chance that their house actually caught on fire, NO ONE would pay their dues. Ever. They were no more obligated to put the fire out than his next door neighbors.

Think about the idiocy involved here. He knew the fire department was a paid service, skipped out on the bill, then watched his kid burn garbage in his yard. You'd think that might ring a bell as to not being the wisest idea in the world.

 

[a-dev]

No doubt he was a fool but it disgusts me to think that they apparently didn't think the presence of life in the house, non-human though it was, made for an exceptional circumstance.

 

[BadMoon]

This is sad. I feel for the animals. However, this is an entitlement issue. I get so sick of people and their need to feel entitled to services that they do not pay for.

Sideshow doesn't ship you your PF for free and then ask you to pay for it later do they?

If you don't pay your cable bill guess what? No True Blood for you.

The issue at hand and what makes it shocking is that a home was burnt down and animals died. So it seems very dramatic and horrifying. However, it's as simple as paying a bill. I don't understand why people feel entitled to everything for nothing out of pocket. I can picture this guy telling his neighbor over a bud how he decided not to pay and how he is showing them by not paying his bill. Now all the sudden his house burns down and they are the bad guys? Seems silly to me. We all pay our taxes, bills, and so on in this country for a reason.

 

[Deeznutz6]

So your tax dollars dont go toward the fire service?

Its a separate fee tha goes out to each home?

 

[Rotfish]

Guy totally should have paid the fee. But on the other hand, the house burned down and four animals died, while the neighbor next door got the right treatment. I honestly don't know who to call BS on. Probably the fireman, since I'd say a house and LIVE animals are worth way more than $75 measely bucks. Greedy bastards... this was a serious issue, not some small fire that one could put out simply by owning an extinguisher.

Just had to take a side . I'm not standing up for the guy by any means. He obviously made some pretty crappy decisions. I am, however, standing against the fire department.

 

[BadMoon]

So your tax dollars dont go toward the fire service?

Its a separate fee tha goes out to each home?

Because they are in a rural area they have to pay extra. It's a greater distance and they CHOSE to live out there.

Guy totally should have paid the fee. But on the other hand, the house burned down and four animals died, while the neighbor next door got the right treatment. I honestly don't know who to call BS on. Probably the fireman, since I'd say a house and LIVE animals are worth way more than $75 measely bucks. Greedy bastards... this was a serious issue, not some small fire that one could put out simply by owning an extinguisher.

Just had to take a side .

I understand what you are saying but where do you draw the line? They are opening up themselves for bigger lawsuits. If they were to save this house and then the same thing happened to someone else and they did nothing it would be worse. If you make a rule you have to stick by it. There is no situational circumstances. A rule is a rule. Plus the resident was obviously informed about this. You pay you get service. You don't you don't. It's really that simple. It would have been a better story if the community banded together and help put it out. However, they paid their dues and could care less about someone elses property until they are interviewed by the media. Then all the sudden it is tragic to them.

 

[BadMoon]

I'm not standing up for the guy by any means. He obviously made some pretty crappy decisions. I am, however, standing against the fire department.

And you can't have it both ways. You either agree with one or the other.

 

[hairlesswookiee]

Guy totally should have paid the fee. But on the other hand, the house burned down and four animals died, while the neighbor next door got the right treatment. I honestly don't know who to call BS on. Probably the fireman, since I'd say a house and LIVE animals are worth way more than $75 measely bucks. Greedy bastards... this was a serious issue, not some small fire that one could put out simply by owning an extinguisher.

Just had to take a side . I'm not standing up for the guy by any means. He obviously made some pretty crappy decisions. I am, however, standing against the fire department.

Agree. They should've put out the fire then billed the person for the services. If they still refused to pay the city/county could've turned them over to collections and put a lien on their house and/or charged them an excessive fine for not paying.

 

[BadMoon]

Agree. They should've put out the fire then billed the person for the services. If they still refused to pay the city/county could've turned them over to collections and put a lien on their house and/or charged them an excessive fine for not paying.

I actually want to agree with this. However, I'm a realist and simply can't. Say I stop paying my electric bill. I just don't feel like it. I happen to have electric heat and it's September. The weather is warm and I'm NOT paying a dime. I wait it out and then comes November and shat it's 20 degrees outside this morning. I go to turn my heat on and guess what? It doesn't work! Should the electric company turn it on right then and there in the goodness of their hearts in hopes I will pay later? I don't think so. That makes no sense to me.

Hell chances are if this guy can't pay $75 he probably doesn't even have insurance on his home. So how is he going to pay $75 at a later date when his house just burnt down and he has no insurance to cover it?

I pay quarterly fees just so some guy can hop off a truck and take my trash. I assure you it's almost double the annual rate this guy had to pay for fire support. If I don't pay I surely don't expect someone to take my trash.

Also this would be a whole other issue if the family was struggling and went to their local officials for help and were denied after trying to get it. However, that's not the case. They simply refused to pay.

 

[hairlesswookiee]

I actually want to agree with this. However, I'm a realist and simply can't. Say I stop paying my electric bill. I just don't feel like it. I happen to have electric heat and it's September. The weather is warm and I'm NOT paying a dime. I wait it out and then comes November and shat it's 20 degrees outside this morning. I go to turn my heat on and guess what? It doesn't work! Should the electric company turn it on right then and there in the goodness of their hearts in hopes I will pay later? I don't think so. That makes no sense to me.

Hell chances are if this guy can't pay $75 he probably doesn't even have insurance on his home. So how is he going to pay $75 at a later date when his house just burnt down and he has no insurance to cover it?

Doesn't matter if people agree with it or not. It's called the "duty to act." Had there been a person/child in the house would the story be different?? Paying electric bills or utilities isn't the same as a disaster situation like a FIRE. Should the guy have paid his bill? Yes. But because of a $75 bill they lose everything including the lives of animals?? Pathetic.

 

[BadMoon]

Doesn't matter if people agree with it or not. It's called the "duty to act." Had there been a person/child in the house would the story be different?? Paying electric bills or utilities isn't the same as a disaster situation like a FIRE. Should the guy have paid his bill? Yes. But because of a $75 bill they lose everything including the lives of animals?? Pathetic.

No it's not pathetic. You are captured by the media's spin and the dramatic nature of the story.

And yes, paying your electric or gas bill is important where I am from. Please don't be so naive. People have died in the cold and heat because the refuse to pay bills necessary to both heat and cool their home. And they are humans!

You are referencing the entitlement issue we have as a country to a T sir. I don't want to work so I'm entitled to benefits and food stamps mentality. You aren't just given those services. They come at a cost. However, people only see this country with a WIFM mentality and that's what's tearing us all apart.

Whats
In it
For
Me

 

[316what]

I'm mostly serious that he has grounds for a lawsuit.

He has ZERO grounds for a lawsuit...and if he files one, guess who will end up paying for it? The taxpayers in his area who ACTUALLY pay their taxes and bills.

I hope they sue the hell out of the FD. Standing there and watching everything burn including helpless pets over $75? WTF?? I would've called the cops and have them arrested for trespassing.

And the cops would have laughed at you and your house burning down.

this is absolutley horrible.


i hope he sues and they get a lifetime subscription of fire department cooperation..i would set poop on fire for them to come out and put it out..

He can sue, but he won't get anything.

Capitalism at its greatest

Has ZERO to do with Capitalism, but rather someone not taking care of their own responsibilities and in turn paying the consequences for their actions.

So your tax dollars dont go toward the fire service?

Its a separate fee tha goes out to each home?

It varies by city, county, and state.

Doesn't matter if people agree with it or not. It's called the "duty to act." Had there been a person/child in the house would the story be different?? Paying electric bills or utilities isn't the same as a disaster situation like a FIRE. Should the guy have paid his bill? Yes. But because of a $75 bill they lose everything including the lives of animals?? Pathetic.

Human life > dog's life.

They didn't lose everything because of the $75 bill. They lost everything due to:

1. Not taking care of their responsibilities
2. Not supervising a 10 yr old burning paper in the yard

Also, people are forgetting this was a volunteer fire department....those firemen don't get paid for what they do in most cases. And I'm sure most, if not all of the responding firemen wanted to put out the fire but their hands were tied due to policy....which, if you read the article, the Fire Chief is against.