Wrong. They are volunteers who organized on the principal of serving a select group and everyone knew the rules. Perhaps not the system I would prefer, but a system none the less. Is the banks security across the street responsible for protecting your store, "because the could if they wanted to?" The person who's property burned had the opportunity to join with his community in a voluntary tax. He chose not to and was deprived of the service. What part of this don't you get?
I get it. That doesn't make it right.