FirefighterNation.com has the story of 3 college students who had to be rescued from a 20 foot high roof on their campus at Hampshire College. The Amherst, Massachusetts Fire Chief plans to bill the students for the rescue and called them “idiots”.
Here are my questions for you…
- How many calls have you run that had similar “idiots”?
- Do you think the “idiots” in this case or other cases should be billed?
- Do you think that by billing for services might dissuade people (or idiots) from calling for our help in the future?
I have no problem with the Fire Chief speaking out publicly and referring to these students as idiots. I think it is a teaching moment for other future idiots. It is a public service.
However, I do have a problem with billing for our services. If you are going to do it, do it for everyone (I also do not agree with that).
FC,
I miss where the Chief calls anyone an idiot…
Read the article here: http://www.firefighternation.com/article/news-2/massachusetts-chief-calls-rescued-students-idiots. It is in there.
I agree with the Chief speaking out, charging though, not so much, regardless of the situation, this is what we do, bailing someone out of trouble. Without the “Idiots” we wouldn’t have something lighthearted to make fun about.