Tennessee family home burns while firefighters watch

Yahoo! News ^ | Dec. 6, 2011

[Free ThinkerNY]

A Tennessee couple helplessly watched their home burn to the ground, along with all of their possessions, because they did not pay a $75 annual fee to the local fire department.

Vicky Bell told the NBC affiliate WPSD-TV that she called 911 when her mobile home in Obion County caught fire. Firefighters arrived on the scene but as the fire raged, they simply stood by and did nothing. "In an emergency, the first thing you think of, 'Call 9-1-1," homeowner Bell said.

However, Bell and her husband were forced to walk into the burning home in an attempt to retrieve their own belongings. "You could look out my mom's trailer and see the trucks sitting at a distance," Bell said. "We just wished we could've gotten more out."

South Fulton Mayor David Crocker defended the fire department, saying that if firefighters responded to non-subscribers, no one would have an incentive to pay the fee.

Residents in the city of South Fulton receive the service automatically, but it is not extended to those living in the greater county-wide area.

[2CAVTrooper]

Yes. If the fee wasnt paid, and a life was in danger the department would have rescued the person and put out the fire.

But being that no lives were in danger and the trailer was a total loss anyways they let it burn.

[2CAVTrooper]

Yes. If the fee wasnt paid, and a life was in danger the department would have rescued the person and put out the fire.

But being that no lives were in danger and the trailer was a total loss anyways they let it burn.

[2CAVTrooper]

If they dont charge anything, then how do they buy new equipment or even maintain the existing equipment?

Or are they a still a bucket brigade?

[Chode]

anything the Firemen don't pay for themselves is ALL paid for with fund raisers, donations and grants, the trucks were all paid for the same way as well as the firehouse itself, the property pays no taxes and i think the gas comes from the County fuel depot...

our current firehouse was built in 1935 and is in need of replacement, so the VFD just purchased a larger piece of land for a bigger station less than one mile from the current location and we are doing the fund raising now to build the new station part of which will come from the sale of the current property

we have 4 trucks, one is a tanker/pumper from ponds as there are no hydrants in the country

when there is a fire, mutual aid and support is provided by all the other VFDs in the county when extra men equipment is required

it's been this way since before i was born...

[dragnet2]

In Wisconsin, it is illegal to turn off heat and electric from October through April. In case dire emergency, especially where children or the elderly or someone with a medical problem/disability is involved, a call to county Social Services will usually result in a voucher for the electric company/propane company until the family is either back on its feet or receiving assistance. I doubt it is too much different elsewhere.

_______________________________________________________

Northeast states cut heating aid to poor

12/11/11

WASHINGTON (AP) - Mary Power is 92 and worried about surviving another frigid New England winter because deep cuts in federal home heating assistance benefits mean she probably can't afford enough heating oil to stay warm. She lives in a drafty trailer in Boston's West Roxbury neighborhood and gets by on $11,148 a year in pension and Social Security benefits. Her heating aid help this year will drop from $1,035 to $685.... it probably will cost her more than $3,000 for enough oil to keep warm unless she turns her thermostat down to 60 degrees, as she plans.

[2CAVTrooper]

Not every VFD has fundraisers, and even those that do have them, they dont always cover 100% of the overhead.

I mean really, Boo fricken hoo a trailer burned down to the frame because the owners decided to blow $75 on something like Netflix, or DirectTV instead of helping pay for fire protection. Just like the predator producing welfare broodmares whining about not having health insurance yet they have a $300 iPhone or other luxury items that they do not need.

[gatopfs]

In a related story, the family gave a TV interview to a local reporter praising Obama for all that he has done for our economy and exclaimed how they can’t wait for OBAMACARE to kick in.

They are of course hoping that there are no deductibles or co-pays...

[Chode]

i really couldn't care less what happened to them since they knew the chances they took by NOT paying the fee...

i am merely telling you how it works around here, nothing more

[2CAVTrooper]

Are you serious?

If so then karma really is a b**ch.... ROFL