in this random rambling thread we post random pictures

[rebelcowboysnb]

Actually most Fire Departments in the US are private, nonprofits. I thinks is about 25% are government ran...

 

[chickencrazy429]

And we thought that the Earth was big... This is CRAAAZY!

 

[Malibu99]

 

[Gargoyle]

Actually most Fire Departments in the US are private, nonprofits. I thinks is about 25% are government ran...

pretty much everywhere I've lived they have been supported by tax funds, (it's a specific line item on my property tax bill, and the last couple elections we've voted on specific funding increases) so even of they are organized and defined as nonprofits they are government mandated and funded.

In the past (100+ years ago) most were private corporations, and if you didn't buy fire insurance from them in advance, they'd let you burn. Some things aren't better done by private industry.

 

[Malibu99]

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Letting houses burn cause they didnt pay up first has never been a standard practice. Some departments have done that an some still do today. Even government owned departments are known for running that way. Generally they usually put fires out even if the person never payed an then they charge them for putting it out. I think it usually costs the no payers a few grand after the fact. Its the same as medical insurance. Pay a little at a time or pay out the butt when something happens.

Most departments have always been donation funded though. People love giving money to the FD cause they see what good it does. I have stood in the road taking donations. A FD doing a good job is well funded without government. It was not unusual for me to be working a fire or wreck an have have people come out of their homes an hand me checks.

The government stuck its nose in it cause of the money an control. The government comes in to a non profit an waves a carrot of a new truck or fuel costs or what ever. They then go to the tax payer an asks to let them raise taxes to fund the FD. They also add in all the other pet projects the government wants that would not have passed otherwise. Government wins big, FD gets one new truck an the community taxes to threw the roof. Next road block rolls around an no one wants to donate cause that's what that new tax was suppose to be for. Now the department is on the government hook an the government has another carrot to dangle to get more an more taxes, most of which never make it to the FD..


Here in Dade Ga the population is about 16,633. It now votes in a tax every 6 years to help the 7 fire departments with new stuff. It is estimated to bring in $13.6 million in those 6 years. $1.2 million of which goes to buy each department 1 new truck every 6 years an pay them $3000 to cover fuel an working expenses every 3 months. So the dade county Govenment makes around $12 million profit every 6 years off of being able to say they fund the local Fire Departments... A tax that they could not get passed before they did that.

 

[Gargoyle]

So the dade county Govenment makes around $12 million profit every 6 years off of being able to say they fund the local Fire Departments... A tax that they could not get passed before they did that.

Do you have fire hydrants or do the trucks carry the water? Installing a network of hydrants and maintaining them costs millions, an even laying pipe to the stations and providing clean water to fill the trucks is a not insignificant expense. I guess you could just drain the water out of a creek, but that wouldn't work here where the rivers and creeks are frozen for a number of months each year, and then can run pretty dry in the summer.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Do you have fire hydrants or do the trucks carry the water? Installing a network of hydrants and maintaining them costs millions, an even laying pipe to the stations and providing clean water to fill the trucks is a not insignificant expense. I guess you could just drain the water out of a creek, but that wouldn't work here where the rivers and creeks are frozen for a number of months each year, and then can run pretty dry in the summer.

Our water company is privately owned. They do not charge the FD for water. They donate it an the installation of hydrants as a part of doing that business. Being private they have PR issue to worry about. For the record, my water bill is less than $17 a month at home. The power, roads an LEOs are government ran though.




Our departments are also well trained in sucking out of bodies of water an shuttling water. Most trucks in the county carry 1000 gallons +... The truck I drove pre government nose carried 1000 gallons of water an could flow 1500 gallons a minute. The truck I was driving in the end carried 1300 gallons of water an could flow 1500 gallons a minute. It was a bit faster an prettier though. Both carried 1000 feet of hydrant hose about the same in attack hose.

 

[chickencrazy429]

 

[Chickenloving]

Oh... that was weird but lol