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 ...
The roof...
The roof...
The roof is on fire!
I have no sympathy for someone who hates freedom.
Well, if you gotta pay the fee and choose not to... got no one to blame but yourself.... Sadly, this person didn't pay... but somehow it'll wind up being someone elses fault.
Gee, losing your home for refusing to pay a $25 annual fee. How bloody stupid of him.
I supposed they could have put the fire out, then billed him.
This should not happen.
I guess the government should take care of it, huh?
"I supposed they could have put the fire out, then billed him."
Wouldn't that have made a heck of a lot more sense? I'll bet they could have gotten 50 from him!
Shame on these firefighters for not putting the fire out over $25 dollars. That is crap. Imagine if it was your house and you forgot to pay the $25 - would you want them to put it out? That's their damn job.
Goober could have done the overhaul and checked for hot spots himself with a waterhose/greenline.
I'll betcha he wishes he'd cut that $25 check.
He should have paid them the $25 when they arrived to put out the fire.
Crassus lives. ;)
PAY THE FEE--DONT EXPECT EVERYTHING FOR FREE.
Foolish, I bet the percentage of dues payers goes WAY up now....LOL
Their job is to put out fires for free? OK, so you believe in slavery. Can you elaborate? I mean, how does a person enter this slavery, and can they get out? Can fire departments sell firefighters to other departments? Is it OK to brand or tattoo firefighters, in case they run away?
Where I live, we have an all volunteer fire company, which has saved my little economically depressed community a lot of money, but the downside is that this volunteer company depends exclusively on charitable support. Personally, I'm so happy not to have to pay via tax dollars that anytime someone comes around with the boot, or there is some other fundraiser, you will find me ready with the donation. The fire company mails the residents an appeal solicitation once a year...it lists various suggested amounts starting at $20, but if you can only afford a dollar, no one will complain. It's a helluva lot better than paying wages and benefits to a bunch of guys to sit around all day waiting for a fire or some other emergency to happen.
Great. So the fire department collects maybe $200 all year because people only pay their $25 after their house catches fire.
That oughta keep them in business.
Would you do your job without getting paid? Personally, I think it is stupid that property taxes don't cover the fire department, but if you don't pay, you take your chances. This guy did not want government services and he got what he paid for.
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