Posted on 02/16/2006 3:52:53 PM PST by LouAvul
Edited on 02/16/2006 6:43:01 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
MONETT, Mo. (AP) - Rural firefighters stood by and watched a fire destroy a garage and a vehicle because the property owner had not paid membership dues.
Bibaldo Rueda - who was injured battling the flames Monday - offered to pay the dues as the fire blazed away, but the Monett Rural Fire Department does not have a policy for on-the-spot billing, Sheriff's Detective Robert Evenson said.
(Excerpt) Read more at modbee.com ...
It is very likely that insurance won't cover the loss because he had every opportunity to contract for the fire service.
Sometimes being cheap can really hurt you.
They aren't volunteers if they are charging for it. :P
They should at least have the decency not to call themselves "volunteers" then.
Seems to me this story happened over a year ago and was posted and discussed then.
To me putting out this fire and giving the man a bill later is shear human decency. Having the ability to put it out, and not doing it is very low and very unethical in my judgement.
I must disagree.
I've lived in rural communities with volunteer fire departments, and they survive on donations & dues. You can't put out fires and then bill people, otherwise no one would pay up front--it's a lot like insurance--you can't not have insurance, and then offer to pay a premium if you ever get in an automobile accident; it just doesn't work that way. I don't see anyone up in arms when insurance companies refuse to pay benefits if people stop paying premiums, and this is the same type of system: you pay, you get fire protection.
In fact, it's capitalism writ large; I don't see a problem with it at all. Each person chooses whether or not he wants the service.
I find it difficult to believe that the man didn't know about the policy, but it's possible he didn't. I can say that in my town, the fire department sent out letters every couple of months asking for money and donations--it was really pretty hard to miss.
Dittos.
I guess I was raised different from a lot of folks on this thread. I was taught to help my neighbor in a time of emergency, whether he merited it or not. Even if I did not like my neighbor I would lend a hand if their property was on fire.
Yep...and the alternative to "otherwise" would likely be another line on your property tax bill...that's about the only other avenue, I'd guess.
Perhaps, but the problem with that is that if you did that, no one would ever pay up front--and the fact of the matter is that fire departments need money to operate, and that money comes from people who pay dues. If you let people pay after a fire, no one would pay up front and you wouldn't have a fire department. It's not a better solution--it's a worse one.
This absolutely too bizarre to believe.
I've lived with volunteer firecompanies for more than 20 years and have never heard of such a thing. When I livedin Dover, DE we got a mailing from the company once a year for a donation. In other towns they ran various types of fund raisers. But all the companies got a grant every year from the state.
I don't know about tax money for the VFDs here in Virginia, but I contribute to them on a regular basis. One of our local companies lost their stationhouse and 2 ambulances just a few weeks ago....they were all responding to an alarm, along with 5 or 6 other companies when the alarm came in for the firhouse...........crying shame because arson is suspected in both fires from that night.
April 21, 2004 | Issue 40•16
CHEYENNE, WY—After attempting to contain a living-room blaze started by a cigarette, card-carrying Libertarian Trent Jacobs reluctantly called the Cheyenne Fire Department Monday. "Although the community would do better to rely on an efficient, free-market fire-fighting service, the fact is that expensive, unnecessary public fire departments do exist," Jacobs said. "Also, my house was burning down." Jacobs did not offer to pay firefighters for their service.
"I call them firefighters. They are working for a private organization and are not existing off government money. I wish my own area had one of these. A private police force as well. Would probably be run more efficiently as well"
In general I am a very big proponent of small government. However I think offering fire, police, and emergency services is a very legitimate role for the government. Somethings can be contracted out. Somethings shouldn't be. Those services shouldn't be.
That's a far cry from the $900+ annual assessment I pay to San Diego County Fire Dept.
It was to be used as a new Evangelical Community Church in Beaumont, some ten miles away. But as the building was being moved on a mammoth trailer to its new location, it came in contact with a 138,000-volt power line, which started a fire on the roof of the building. The driver phoned the Beaumont fire department from a farmhouse.
“There’s a large building on fire about a mile east of the town on Highway 625,” he said .”I’m sorry,” replied the dispatcher, “but that’s outside our jurisdiction.” “Well, get your equipment ready,” the driver replied. “It’ll be there in five minutes!”
Yeah, if you live in a rural area, it is a good idea to join, becuase some Volunteer companies have a small problem with thier members starting fires so they can go to calls.
When I was a Volunteer Medic, the local Fire Depts would go to any fire, regardless of membership or not. since they dont get many fires to begin with, they welcome any chance to do it.
You're on the right track but the multiple isn't high enough. He wins if his house doesn't burn down every four years. Making it a winner actuarially (?) for the FD would mean you would have to pay maybe 50x the base rate. But then we're talking maybe thousands of dollars.
That's why they call them SCABS!!
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