(10-06-2010 09:54 AM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(10-06-2010 09:00 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  

(10-05-2010 09:48 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(10-05-2010 08:57 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  

(10-05-2010 02:04 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  Personally, I think they should have come put out the fire and then charged them for the full cost (Fuel, Salaries, maintenance, water, equipment, and the like). If the family did not pay up (or agree to a payment plan) then put a lien on the house.

Why do I think this? Just because someone does not 'deserve' help does not mean you don't give it. But you can't just make it free to fight a fire.

I don't think the FD had an obligation to do it, but they should have done it.

Really?? the FD should check a list before rendering aid? It's a crime for a citizen not to render aid... hospitals can't fail to render aid... what if the list is wrong?? I don't have a problem with billing someone for services... but to NOT render aid is crazy. If you want to be a private fire service, fine... but are you telling me that private security would supplant the police??

Ummm thats not even close to what I said.

I said they *should have done it* despite the fact that the house was not in their town and the owners elected not to sign up for coverage.

All I said is after the aid was rendered that the full cost of the aid should be charged.

You weren't the only person in the quote, and clearly the "story" is what I am responding to. The "Really" comment was to the article... I was generally agreeing with you on the payment... and asking you to take it further

my question is...

why is it illegal for a citizen to fail to stop and render aid, or for a hospital to not render aid, but not for a fire department to render aid? Is there not a local fire department? What if you were behind on your property taxes, could the police fail to stop a burglar at your home, or the FD to not put out a fire? What if someone HAD died??

My bad, I just assumed that because I was the 'last' person in the quote that you were addressing me.

To answer your question:

A hospital has to render aid but one in a neighboring city does not have to send an ambulance to your home. A Citizen does not have to charge into a burning Building.

The fire department here allows people outside of their jurisdiction to pay for service because there is no FD outside whatever town or county they are in. This was not somebody within their town limits who was behind on taxes.

"Cranick, who lives outside the city limits, admits he "forgot" to pay the annual $75 fee. The county does not have a county-wide firefighting service, but South Fulton offers fire coverage to rural residents for a fee."

Its the South Fulton Fire Department, not the county one.

I'm with you that they were asses for not putting it out, but it's not a crime to be an ass (just look at congress).

Another fair question is what if the fire fighters made a mistake and someone got hurt (either a fire fighter or a pedestrian) and then sued the hell out of the FD because this was not even part of their zone of authority and they were acting.

Interesting, their are good Samaritan laws protecting individuals but I don't think a fire dept. could go there. Another thing, what if there was a paperwork error and they really HAD paid. Are their records so reliable to let a home burn. There are many questions on several levels here, both legal and moral.