[Metticus]

rofl, so this guy was all like "MY HOUSE IS ON FIRE" and the fire department watched his house burn to the ground because he owed them $75. I love Tennessee.
http://news.yahoo.co...ological-debate

Quote

Just about anything can be fodder for an ideological dispute these days. Just consider news of the recent fire at Gene Cranick's home in Obion County, Tenn.

Here's the short version of what happened: In rural Obion County, homeowners must pay $75 annually for fire protection services from the nearby city of South Fulton. If they don't pay the fee and their home catches fire, tough luck -- even if firefighters are positioned just outside the home with hoses at the ready.

Gene Cranick found this out the hard way.

When Cranick's house caught fire last week, and he couldn't contain the blaze with garden hoses, he called 911. During the emergency call, he offered to pay all expenses related to the Fire Department's defense of his home, but the South Fulton firefighters refused to do anything.

They did, however, come out when Cranick's neighbor -- who'd already paid the fee -- called 911 because he worried that the fire might spread to his property. Once they arrived, members of the South Fulton department stood by and watched Cranick's home burn; they sprang into action only when the fire reached the neighbor's property.

"I hadn't paid my $75 and that's what they want, $75, and they don't care how much it burned down," Gene Cranick told WPSD, an NBC affiliate in Kentucky. "I thought they'd come out and put it out, even if you hadn't paid your $75, but I was wrong."

Watch a video report:

[Samurai-Kimera]

Hahahaha. Can you imagine how pissed you'd be. Honestly though I wouldn't be able to stand there as a firefighter. I would give him some nice fees after.

[Mirae]

I think this is scandalous to be honest. If they are so bent on the money, charge him twice the amount after saving his house or something, but to just let it all burn is rather cruel. Shows the indifference alot of people have toward their fellow man I suppose.

[Arkley]

Don't blame the firefighters, blame the system that created this situation. He didn't pay the fee for the service, so he wasn't entitled to it. Yes, it's terrible that his house burned down and don't get me wrong here, I agree that something should have been done. The system should allow for the firefighters to put out fires at the houses of non-payers and simply bill them for the full cost of their services afterwards, plus a hearty premium. But it doesn't, so they didn't.

This should be used as an opportunity to propose reworking of that system, not as an opportunity to condemn the firefighters or the ideology behind charging for emergency services.

[Vigilous]

Ah, old fashioned protection rackets. Good to see they're now state-sacntioned.

[Keylime]

Three words, "Home Owner's Insurance."

[firefeng]

And the Fire Department's reaction were there people inside would be...?

This is fucking revolting.

[Keylime]

firefeng, on 07 October 2010 - 08:42 AM, said:

This is fucking revolting.

Here is revolting.

[Wildstriker]

Holy shit, that sidekick guy is ridiculously annoying.

[Aeonknight]

You ask any firefighter what they consider themselves to be... and more often than not they'll say "public servants." Way to uphold the image of firefighters being life savers boys... respect -1.

[Chriscoffey]

Aeonknight, on 08 October 2010 - 04:33 PM, said:

You ask any firefighter what they consider themselves to be... and more often than not they'll say "public servants." Way to uphold the image of firefighters being life savers boys... respect -1.

Oh you haven't saw anything yet seems this entire damn country is burning itself to the ground day by day with disrespect and how you can fuck over your neighbor.

[MrReinhardt]

My brother has been a DC firefighter for a few years and a volunteer firefighter for over 10 years. I myself am a former volunteer, couldn't stay because of the condition of my leg. The last thing a firefighter is concerned about is a house burning down rather than the lives within it and whether or not they can contain it before it does more damage. Excuse me I should say a "real" firefighter since these guys are more like mercenaries.

[Kay]

I thought the story was hilarious. I guess he should have paid the 75$ fee.

[Aeonknight]

Kay, on 12 October 2010 - 11:58 AM, said:

I thought the story was hilarious. I guess he should have paid the 75$ fee.

Anddddd the thread takes the typical yet inevitable route that every thread about a victim/disaster takes:
Laugh at other's misfortune.

[Wildstriker]

Aeonknight, on 12 October 2010 - 03:58 PM, said:

Anddddd the thread takes the typical yet inevitable route that every thread about a victim/disaster takes:
Laugh at other's misfortune.

I wouldn't take what anyone says on the internet seriously.

[Vigilous]

Especially a woman.

[Kay]

Aeonknight, on 12 October 2010 - 03:58 PM, said:

Anddddd the thread takes the typical yet inevitable route that every thread about a victim/disaster takes:
Laugh at other's misfortune.

Whatever, I'm not gonna feign sympathy and certainly don't feel compunction over what I said.

Quote

Especially a woman.

This is true.

This post has been edited by Kay: 12 October 2010 - 11:42 PM

[MrReinhardt]

moral of the story, if you can't pay your bill make sure you have a fire extinguisher or 20.

[renzuko]

im not sure whats more cruel, letting the whole place burn, or, putting it out, and charging him massive fee's...if he cant pay 75 bucks, then what's gonna happen

[Mirae]

renzuko, on 13 October 2010 - 01:29 AM, said:

im not sure whats more cruel, letting the whole place burn, or, putting it out, and charging him massive fee's...if he cant pay 75 bucks, then what's gonna happen

Well he did say in the video that he paid it all the years previous, just not this one.
If the complaint is money, I'd rather they actually do their job and extinguish the fire and charge more after, than stand there watching it burn (waiting for someone to quote that awful song). My conscience and morals would never allow that.

This post has been edited by Mirae: 13 October 2010 - 03:58 AM