Yeah…it is like kicking a dead deer. Another house burns in Obion County, Tennessee and firefighters don’t put it out.
Only this time, Dave Statter only reports the news and fails to add in his two cents vilifying the South Fulton Fire Department.
A woman’s house burned in South Fulton while firefighters watched from a distance. The firefighters did not put out the fire because the woman had not paid the $75 fire tax. South Fulton has a well disciplined and well known rule NOT to suppress fires on non paying residents of Obion County.
The firefighters were dispatched, but apparently didn’t realize the homeowner hadn’t paid until they arrived.
Last year, when a similar story went viral, Dave Statter said that the firefighters should have put out the fire.
This time Dave has apparently changed his tune and not offered us a reporters view of what he thinks the South Fulton FD should do. I take this as Dave having learned his lesson after being schooled by me and so many others.
Nothing is broke here folks. South Fulton offers fire coverage in part of Obion County. Other departments cover the rest of the County. South Fulton does it for a yearly fee/tax of $75. If you pay it you get coverage. If you don’t pay it you don’t get coverage. It is that plain and simple.
The solution is simple. Obion County residents should either pay the fire tax or create their own fire department.
Hell, even the woman who’s house had burned stated that she never thought it would happen to her.
Unfortunately, the fact that the woman didn’t pay will in fact burn the firefighters again this time.
I think they should stick to their policy.
While I don’t wish this on anyone, the people who don’t pay the tax know what the outcome will be if their house catches fire. That is their choice.
What do you think?
I can’t wait for the spin Dave puts on this…
Links:
- Previous coverage of the last South Fulton Fiasco and related articles
- The local story is here
- Dave Statters weak coverage of the incident is here
I think if this department is going to charge for service, they’d better be out the door in less than a minute and their firefighters had better be in top-top shape, not fat and lazy like the typical southerner. It’s a sad thing when the firefighters decide to watch a house burn because they didn’t pay $75. If that’s your reasoning, you’re in the wrong line or work.
“…lazy and fat like the typical southerner”? I’ve been from Massachusetts to Florida, and I can say, firmly, that fat and lazy is an east-coast-wide phenomenon. In both the civilian world and the fire service.
With the exception of that one comment, you did make a good argument.
Yes Street, poor Rhett is in the wrong line of work. He shouldn’t be a blogger with reasoning like that. And clearly, as I have been pointing out for some time, he is not a real firefighter or he wouldn’t be in favor of this.
Rhett, I know you were seven hours behind on this one and have to attack me to get anyone at this point to read what you have written. If you bothered to look at the more than 60 comments so far you would see my position is the same as before.
My guess is what really upset you is I didn’t mention your name this time and you had to lash it in search of attention. I have corrected that and gave you a nice prominent link right under Chief Goldfeder’s. Make sure you mention how wrong Billy is as you weakly justify your position.
We missed you at Thanksgiving. Come home soon.
Seriously guy, quit posting under the name “Dave Statter”. You are making him appear more dumb than he really is. I wonder if Dave even knows you hijacked his username?
Like it or not, fire departments do not set the standard of care for the community. The citizens of the municipality (or the state, or the nation as a whole) sets the standard. So it really doesn’t matter a whole lot what we think the good folks in this communnity should or should not do. What we can do is point out to the vast majority of Americans that are confident they will never need the fire department that such attitude is often a bad bet and one not easily recovered.
Once again there are missing facts that may shed light on this particular company. For example, are there limits on thier liability, worker’s comp, propery insurance, or errors and omissions insurance that preclude them from helping a non subscriber? The last time I looked deeply into one of these, that was the case. What good comes to the community of the engine is damaged or personnel are injured and no one is there to restore the company or the member??
I don’t particularly like subscription systems, but I have a tough time berating those involved because someone didn’t think their stuff was worth $75 a year.
I have some experience with the Texas ESD’s and I am not sure they are the best answer, but they do work. Cost taxpayers a bundle though. I have to say bottom line; I agree with Rhett, if I didn’t pay my car insurance and I wreck can I call them up and pay to be covered for the accident i just had? That being said I am not sure i could physically stand and watch a house burn, on purpose. I question would life saving measures be taken if their were occupants? Where does the line get drawn, we rescue kids but not adults? I can only image the tense political situation in that area and hope that somehow the taxpayers and the fire/police/ems can find a way to all be funded adequately.
That’s funny Rhett. Second biggest laugh of the day, right after the guy who thinks Rhett Fleitz is a mental giant. Imagine that, “giant” and “Rhett Fleitz” in the same sentence.
I have always been opposed to subscription services, but events over the past few years have caused me to change my tune. If there was adequate funding, departments wouldn’t have to resort to these plans. If the taxpayers of this county are as incensed about it as some would believe (given the death threats, etc. to the chief on the last event), then perhaps they should contact their elected officials and indicate that they desire a traditional non-fee service, and that the country should fund it appropriately.
I do believe, however, that there should be some alternate plans, such as reduced rates for indigent customers. But even a non-participant fee at an extremely high rate isn’t enough to scare some of these people from taking the gamble.
It is a shame that it requires these kinds of events to illustrate the issues, but it’s not like they didn’t fully get warning not too long ago. If someone fails to participate, their insurance company should be notified and if the insurance company wants to protect it, they can pay the fee and backcharge it to the homeowner.
My friend Chief Mick,
Which government agency do you trust to always make sure the billing is 100 percent correct so the FD doesn’t let the wrong house burn?
Put it out and bill them and any ethical, moral and even potential civil issues go away. It’s also fair to those who do pay.
Stephen Mulcare · Apple Valley, California
“The mission of the South Fulton Fire Department is to protect the lives and property of its citizens, and provide good public relations through fire safety education to all businesses and schools.” Unless, that is, you haven’t payed $75. In my 30 years in the fire service I have never seen anything this stupid or criminal. Only a mindless coward would stand by an watch a house burn down. Your agency should be ashamed. and the chief fired. Maybe you should rewrite your mission statement to say “you pay or we don’t come”. Karma always wins in the end and I am sure the bad press you will get for this stupid decision is well deserved. You make the real firefighter in this country sick….
So you become a fireman to do what? Sorry to say but a good % do just for 24 on 48 off and a good pension. Put out the fire damned it. Let the policy makers and lawyers sort out the dollars. Being from a large family of Fire, EMS and Police Officer family,I have heard most all arguments on this and have seen similar cases in my hometown. I say if you are a dedicated career Fireman, you hope to be trusted by the community you have choosen to serve, you continue to update your training & skills and you do everything you can to protect life & property. Enough said!
The lawmakers are the ones who sorted this thing out. The Firefighters are not allowed to extinguish the fire.
Even a child will reach out to help someone in distress. It is the better part of human nature. You have to LEARN how to be so mean spirited as to just sit by and watch tragedy happen to someone.
Some departments operate differently. Some are departments of the local government, some are private buisnesses. You wouldnt expect an insurance company to cover your car wreck if you dont pay your insurance…. dont expect a fire dept. That operates as a buisness to put out
your fire. If there is a life hazard, its another story, but if your not paying your fire fee ( which 75 bucks a year is not bad!) Your not going to get your service that you dont pay for. Municiple depts. Are different in that you pay your taxes and get the service included. Even if you are delinquent in your taxes, you will eventually suffer the consequences, and end up paying them anyway. This is life, this is buisness. Ive often compared the fire service to insurance… if you want good coverage, you gotta pay for it, if your satisfied with the bare minimum policy… dont look surprised when your left standing with a huge bill (or in this case, a burned down house!)
Not saying its right or wrong…. its how some depts operate. If it how your local dept operates, i would suggest you stay current on your fire fees…..
After listening to both sides of this discussion about a year ago, my position has not changed. As a 27 yr volunteer firefighter, there is no way i could possibly stand by and watch a house burn down. I’ve had a house fire before, and it is not something I would be able to stand by and watch happen to someone else. With that said, i still cannot understand why they have not set it up to provide service to those who have not paid the fee ahead of time, by charging them by the man/hour for any service rendered. Most insurance companies my past departments have dealt with have had no problem with this sort of billing. Too bad the city of South Fulton hasnt changed and gotten some simple common sense in the matter.
FireCritic,
No doubt, your opinion is that of a Union Firefighter.
I am not sure where that plays into this…
I just don’t think the firefighters are to blame here. They have rules they have to follow in a broken system. Their hands are tied.
Continuing to blame them will not accomplish anything. Fixing the broken system will.
In the meantime, the Obion county residents in South Fulton’s response area should be paying their measly $75 fire protection fee.
Does your auto insurance let you pay for premiums after you have had an accident? I don’t think so. If people were allowed to pay for protection after an incident, fire service would not be able to exist. Some people have said “Just raise the taxes so everyone is covered” This is easier said than done. Most people don’t want to have their taxes increased. You take your chances where ever you live. Move to the city and have your taxes pay for fire service or live in the county and pay the additional $75 to protect your home or hope for the best. It can happen to you. Fire Service is not free. There is a cost involved especially if you want a Professional Fire Department. If all you care about is cost then you get what you pay for.
Interestingly enough, the firefighters are volunteers, who pay for the fuel in their trucks with the change from the soda machine at the firehouse, and donations. The local gov’t(we receives the funds) soaks up most of the $75 fees and kicks over enough to barely cover gear and some operating expenses. Its a poor area, but she has said she had the money to pay it, just chose not to.
You wish to lay the blame, blame Obion county for not protecting their residents. This presentation has a LOT of interesting details included(which I’m sure many will turn the blind eye to, for the sake of argument)
Sorry for double post, link didn’t publish
http://troy.troytn.com/Obion%20County%20Fire%20Department%20Presentation%20Presented%20to%20the%20County%20Commission.pdf
Hmm. “The firefighters are “Volunteers”. So, put the fire out – what are they going to do? Fire you? Even if they were paid firefighters – put the fire out – let those in the elevated positions worry about it. The right decision is not always the popular one.
OR they could sit their 24 hrs in the fire station and hope the next fire has paid their fees. THEN the fire house could take 50% – those on duty could split the rest of the 50% – wages paid! Then wonder if YOU could pay those fees and feed your families. It is a crime – no matter how you look at it. SHAME on all involved. YOU are a discredit to those in this line of work. I am not sure how you go home and sleep after something so criminal.
Don’t understand why you are taking jabs at me. I’m not involved in the process in any way/shape/form, just have been following the story and the facts since last year when it happened to another person trying to save a buck and losing a trailer.
If South Fulton was smart at this point, they’d cut all ties to Obion county and let them be the ones to take the blame for the lack of protection. People are taking the shots at South Fulton, they were the ones there making sure lives were protected, not to commit themselves to a trailer that was already lost.
The city of South Fulton(who collects the funds, NOT the fire dept) has attempted to recover costs in the past AFTER services were rendered. They had less than 50% recovery rate. For those that can continue to operate like that, congrats, I don’t know of too many departments than can survive that lose money every time they turn a wheel.