[Hodar]

Spraying water on a burning house isn't very effective. It doesn't put the fire out, but it does make a nice muddy mess. The water will run off the roof, and the fire will continue to burn under the roof. You can't put the fire out without getting into the building.

You either engage the fire, or you do not. If they engage, they have taught the residents of the county that failing to pay the annual dues doesn't matter - and the FD goes broke.

What the FD did do, was set up a Fire Block zone, so neighboring homes (who did pay) would be protected.

This is a very simple case of the parable of the Ant and the Grasshopper.

Surprisingly, you seem to be defending the Grasshopper.

[stuartcr]

I have no idea what kind of house it was, or what condition the roof was in, do you? Can’t water be streamed into a window or other opening?

[RabidBartender]

Keith Olbermann and Huffington Post are coming down on the side of the hand-wringers, linking the fire department’s actions to the Tea Party movement.