This just makes me sick!

[rebelcowboysnb]

The FD is under contract with the people that pay. Most non tax supported departments I have seen have trucks that are being payed for on payments with your neighbors names on the note. The water that is used has to be payed for. The gas that is used has to be payed for. Maintenance has to be payed for. This all comes out of the volunteers pockets. Yes, it is only $75 that they asked for. What fighting that fire would cost them more like $5000.


I was a firemen for 13 years an was lucky to be where the county was paying us operating costs. Before that people were putting there houses up to buy trucks so we could have fire coverage.


A FF job is to save lives, to heck with property. I will risk my life to save yours. I will not risk my life, my crews or my equipment to save your Xbox. That is not the job. Why. The equipment or people I lose trying to save your stuff may be the equipment or people I need tomorrow to save a life.

 

[KristyHall]

Quote:
good point

unfortunately it is a failure of the system and not the firefighters who want to help but can not because of these issues.

 

[hemet dennis]

Quote:
Do you pay taxes? Then you are paying for protection already.

And yet the people who don't pay taxes (low income, disability, etc) still get police protection and education for their children.

So no, not the same.

But they don't own the house they rent and the owner pays the fees and taxes from their rent so they are paying taxes (protection).

 

[herfrds]

This has happened before.

Sorry but the cost of 1 set of turn outs aka bunker gear cost around $1300 for just 1 fire fighter.
I haven't priced out an SCBA but they are not cheap.
Then there are the hoses, my fire company just forked out $480 for some new hoses.
Insurance costs us $1200 a year.

Believe me $75 makes a difference if you are a volunteer fire company that has very limited income sources.

 

[love-my-wolves]

I understand, yet I would hope the fire fighters would "fight fires". I guess not, just let it burn. I love my fire men, they will use water to put out even a car on fire!!! With no people in it. I am not blaming the firefighters at all, it's whoever created the "must pay me to protect you" pimp mentality. Because you and I both know, in our hearts, that if the fire spread to the neighbors trailer (that paid the fee) the fire fighters would have doused that fire, and their xbox would have been saved (most likely). I guess we will all agree to disagree, and that's ok

Thanks for the lively debate guys!!! Nighty night!

Quote:
good point

unfortunately it is a failure of the system and not the firefighters who want to help but can not because of these issues.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

About the pets thing. They say that they let the pets die. Fact is that pets in a house fire are going to die 9 out of 10 times no mater what.


There are two types of firefighting.

The first is fire suppression. You risk nothing. Peoples safety an our equipment come first. Keeping the fire contained an eventually out comes second.

The second is search an rescue. In this one firemen safty comes first. Rescuing victims comes second. Equipment does not matter.

One thing I can promise in a search of a rolling house fire is that we lose equipment. A set of turnout gear per firemen in the search can become trash. A two firemen teem that's $5000 down right there. Two sets of SCBA getting melted costs around $15000. I don't mind losing $20K to save a person. Hell I will melt the paint off or sling the engine apart in my $150K Kenworth pumper if thats what it takes to save a life. I have too. I will gladly go in front of the county commission to explain that. But as much as I like my pets I cant do the same for them.

 

[redhen]

So if these FF couldnt put out the fire..or rescue pets..
Would they be allowed to enter the house if a person was in there?

 

[hemet dennis]

Quote:
Yes

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Quote:
I sure they would an I as sure thats why they responded. Respond, make sure everyone is safe an contain the fire to the original structure.

 

[redhen]

Well, that makes me feel somewhat better to know that...