This just makes me sick!

[Mother_Hen2011]

I think it is sad. How do they know if no one was even in the house? They just stood there.. "Sorry that your losing everything youve worked so hard for in your life time and that it will probably take you another lifetime to get it all back but you didnt pay $75 dollars for us to put this fire out.. " So what would have happened if the surrounding area caught on fire? Would they run back to the department and look through their files to make sure everyone was up to date on their payments? And if some one wasnt they would watch everything else burn down? This makes me mad. We live in the country and I bet you I make a call really soon to see if we have to pay this fee. I understand that they need it for the department and I respect our fire fighters and police and service men and women. I just think that in most cases especially when a family is invovled they should waive that fee. Where are they going to sleep? Its freakin winter time and I wish I lived closer Id make sure the family had food and water and a warm place to sleep. Whats the world coming to..

 

[MsPony]

I think firefighters should be supported by an entire community, ie taxes, just like schools/police/etc. I live in Santa Barbara, which has had devastating fires recently. Without the entire community support, pretty sure our entire town would have burned down. Firefighters do more then fight fires, here they are first on scene to an accident or whatever, they can go to elderly peoples houses and assist them with lightbulb changing, etc. I happily pay my taxes for those services for other people.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

It makes me sick. Allowing people to go into a burning building to collect their possessions counts as 'a dangerous situation' to me. I would either have to quit or disobey orders were I a firefighter. I couldn't personally just stand there.

Simply bill the people, and there you go. The problems with paperwork mattemma mentioned would certainly also be concerning to me.

"After the last situation, I would hope that everybody would be well aware of the rural fire fees, this time," Crocker said.

I would hope that it would have been made clear before instituting this what the apparent consequences would be. The tone of that statement reads as extremely distanced and calloused.

I need to look more into how their department is funded/local politics/etc though before I really form an opinion. The way this department is funded certainly sounds...odd.​

 

[HarlansHollowFarms]

Quote:
I think the point is, just like any other service, you have to pay to receive.

My house burned to the ground in the winter, we had a volunteer department. I paid my fees. They had to call 3 other volunteer departments to fight this fire. Which was a total loss. Do you realise how much that costs? The Red Cross will help find accommodations for these people, they came out for me. And if they had insurance, their agent will be there with monetary support as soon as possible.

I can not afford to support all those who do not pay their fees, it is unfortunate, but it is reality.

 

[EweSheep]

OK folks I regress what I said earlier. I thought it was of HOA community.

We pay our taxes for these services, no matter what it is or for what reason. Many times the mobile homes, they would come but protect the nearby property but let the mobile home burn. There is nothing salvagable with those mobile homes, you can not get parts nor safe to live in. Small kitchen fires, they are doable.

We certainly do have fundraisers for the FD, I LOVE to look at those hunky men, putting out their rubber boots for you to put cash or checks to support all of the fire department. We can never do without them, its too risky.

Even those hard times, the city did cut back but its the volunteers that made it their time to make it work for the community.

 

[twentynine]

One thing you guys don't seem to be getting here.

If it is a volunteer dept it is not supported or paid for by taxes.

The volunteer dept I was a member of was set up like an employee owned corporation. Me/I as a member was part owner of the fire truck, building and realestate. During my tenure the town became a city and they then purchased the assets of the dept from the fireman's corp for $1. The volunteer firemen were then given unpaid commissions as firefighters. The fire dept at that time became and is now supported by a tax millage, previously it was supported by the fireman's pocket book, fund raisers, raffles and a small payment from the town (less than $2k per year).

My father was a volunteer in the org for 40 years, he recieves a retirement stipend of $50 per month to acknowledge his service.

As a rule if we were called we responded, but we never left the city limits, if no other fire protection was available with in the city. In other words: We recieve a call that a home was on fire outside the city limits, only 3 fireman respond to the call, a second call would then be made because of the low turnout. When you got 4 FFs turned out, 2 would man a pumper and respond to the outside fire. The remaining 2 would remain inside the city limits, usually at the station, ready to man the second pumper and respond to a fire with in the city limits. The $2k payment from the town paid for this service.

The worse times for turnout would be weekdays during normal work hours. I remember as a 12 year old kid being responsible for operating the pumper as my father and Mr Cobby worked hoses. Because I was all they had.

The parish ( county) I lived in at that time was never accessed a fee or tax to pay for fire protection. No one in the parish up until an actual tax millage was passed by vote was ever accessed a fee to pay for fire protection. The fire protection the parish recieved was granted as a courtesy by THE VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTERS, not the town, not the parish, not the state. A private citizen that invested his time, his money, in serving his community.

Yes! They were allot of people who would curse us for taking ten minutes to respond to a fire in a 192? American LaFrance open cab fire truck. It was usually the same people who set a trash fire in a 40 mph wind that carried into their home.

 

[teach1rusl]

Wow...sad. But I have to agree - you have to pay for services...whether it be through fees or taxes. Sounds like that area needs to go the tax route.
It bugs me when people live in a flood zone (or tornado zone, or whatever zone) and opt out of paying for that type of house insurance. Then when a major flood, or tornado, or whatever occurs, 9 times out of 10 the government (joe taxpayer) will step in and pay the bill. Except some people pay double, because they DID opt to pay for insurance, and now they're paying again through taxes for those who didn't.

 

[Mother_Hen2011]

I just think they could have found a better way around it to be honest. I mean they go to the call and just stand there? watching people run in and out of their house to get personal belongings.. I mean they really could have found a better way..

 

[lilcritters]

We have an area vol dep that did the same thing. WHich is not the practice of all the rural area FD here in South Mo. I believe they refused to go to one because they had not paid their dues, the other local FD came and put it out. I think with all the public out cry and complaints they have changed their policy. I under stand that they need the funds but people need their homes. I am lucky enough to be in on of the districts that pays the VFD out of the taxes. I also live 2 miles from the White Church VFD and can pay dues to them too and have a double team going. Thing is WC will not be called unless Pomona calls them. Kind sucks I like WC better and know the VFF. WC will come reguardless if you have paid and take what ever the insurance will pay them for fees. We have a very close community here and it's great!


April

 

[EweSheep]

Why can't they BILL these people if when they get their homes on fire? At least they should have a choice if the FD is not tax funded or sponsor funded. Yeah some won't pay but take them to court and add on the court costs.

The town or city they live in, need to have it revisted and see what the people want....pay the fees, or taxed, or pay each time you call for services rendered.

Not all services are created equally. Around here either you prepay or pay AFTER the services are rendered. Don't pay the services, well, too bad, they will take you to court.

Overall, its best to put under taxes for FD and PD and the like so every one pays in, no matter how poor or rich they are.

Personally there is more to the story than the writer is writing about. You know, media....