Posted on 10/06/2005 6:16:55 AM PDT by wallcrawlr
Carl Berg failed to pay a $25 annual fee for rural fire protection and, as a result, firefighters let his house burn to the ground last month near International Falls, Minn.
Along with his daughter and a grandson, Berg escaped the fire, grabbing two rifles and a camcorder as he went.
"I lost everything [else]," he said. "Stand and watch it burn was all I could do. ... They should have put the thing out, but they didn't."
Some area residents are expressing outrage about a system that can let that happen -- and about a dispute involving the International Falls Fire Department, Koochiching County and the Rural Fire Protection Association, which collects annual fees and pays the city for each fire it fights outside city limits.
"You either buy it or you don't have it," said Don Billig, the association's secretary.
"You buy the fire protection up here, and you have it," Billig said.
However, Fire Chief Jerry Jensen said, "It's not the way we're trained. It's just wrong. ... My job is to put out fires, not to watch them burn, [and] I don't want this to happen again."
But it has happened before, and it might again because for two years the city, county and the fire association have been unable to agree on costs of replacing the voluntary fee with a property tax levy that would fund fire protection for everyone.
The Fire Department poured enough water on Berg's structure -- a mobile home and enclosed porch -- to put the fire out temporarily and make sure everyone was safe.
But when firefighters were called back later, they let the rekindled blaze destroy the building's remains.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
My read on this is that the Fire Chief wants to see the FD funded out of tax revenues. Good old-fashioned rent seeking.
You are way over the top my Christian brother...maybe go take a walk and cool it with the accusatory tone.
Remains to be seen. Are you claiming that I am factually incorrect, and the Fire Chief doesn't desire his department to be paid from tax revenues? If so, it will be easy enough to determine who is correct.
The ole protection racket eh?
You either buy it
or you dont have it
Wouldn't that have made a heck of a lot more sense? I'll bet they could have gotten 50 from him!
They should have put it out and billed him for actual costs.
I once tried to ensure that no dollar of mine, sweat of my brow, went to any racist member of the United Way. I was assured that they would not disburse any of my contribution to their racist members but that I could not affect the 'bottom line'. I never again contributed (paid 'tribute') to ANY charity.
I donated 'in kind' to the ARC until they prohibited me from carrying my gun.
You be conservative your way and I'll be conservative my way.
Betcha to save another few bucks he didn't have mobile home owners insurance either.
Sorry, I mistook which post you were replying to. On the subject of slavery, I'm afraid there's nothing "over the top" about it: you're advocating forced labor.
Lessee here... 25 dollars a year breaks down to 2.08 dollars a month or 48 cents a week or 7 cents a day.
Bet they end up forking over more if they have to pay through property tax.
A lot more.
Wonder if this goober had insurance?
Bet not.
Actually selling insurance is not a protection racket. What makes a protection racket a racket is that the same people selling "protection" will cause you "accidents" if you don't buy. In this case, the FD would only be a "protection racket" if they set fires on people who didn't pay the fee.
What kind of tag line is that? You kick animals?
Every day.
"Screw him. He refused to pay and now he's going to complain and force everyone in his community to pay a property tax because he was too irresponsible and lazy to pay an extremely reasonable $25."
When the Clay Lick Volunteer Fire Department used to ask me for donations above the $30 annual fee I was always digging deep in my pocket and smiling.
I dont think you need to accuse someone of racist slavery when you discuss this stuff. Thats why its over the top.
And what happens if the owner did pay the fee and can prove it later and the fire department screws up thinking it isn't paid and watches it burn?
Then the city will end up buying a new home for someone. That could be a bit expensive...
What happens if somebody dies in a fire the department refuses to respond to? That could get real expensive...
If they put it out once, doesn't that mean they DID show up despite the $25 fee not being paid?
And yeah, this guy should have stood watch with a hose for sure. Firemen do the best they can. I have seen a house smolder and rekindle for two days.
Do you think it's slavery when Dr.s, Nurses, taxpayers are forced to save illegal immigrants lives for free?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.