Thoughts on the Fire Dept Debate

[RWS]

Vote dimocrat much??????

Never have, never will.

[dallaswareagle]

When it comes to police and fire, our job is to proactively protect. It is our job to save people from their own stupidity. Like I said, I know that's not a popular idea in this day and age, but it really is the truth.

No, it’s your truth. Mine is that I am responsible for my own actions.

I don’t pay the $75.00 Fire fee and I catch my house on fire.   MY FAULT.

Where I live (like most places) I have to pay a fee for the popo to answer my security alarm.  No pay, they ain’t gonna show up.

Based on your belief they should show up anyway. 

[RWS]

No, it’s your truth. Mine is that I am responsible for my own actions.

I don’t pay the $75.00 Fire fee and I catch my house on fire.   MY FAULT.

Where I live (like most places) I have to pay a fee for the popo to answer my security alarm.  No pay, they ain’t gonna show up.

Based on your belief they should show up anyway.

They should, but if your alarm routinely malfunctions and brings them out for false alarms, then you should pay for that. The way ours works is you get to have 3 false alarms in one month. The 4th one, you get a $35 charge.

[Token]

No, it’s your truth. Mine is that I am responsible for my own actions.

I don’t pay the $75.00 Fire fee and I catch my house on fire.   MY FAULT.

Where I live (like most places) I have to pay a fee for the popo to answer my security alarm.  No pay, they ain’t gonna show up.

Based on your belief they should show up anyway.

Straw fucking man.

A security alarm is the ONLY reason the popo would charge you for their assistance.  If you dialed 911 because someone was trying to break into your house, the popo would likely drive 150 mph to your residence and be severely pissed if there wasn't an ass to whip when they arrived. 

Since when is it ANYBODY's job to "Save people" from their own stupidity

Holy shit.  Are you serious?  Who do you think emergency organizations spend 90% of their time dealing with?  Cut your finger off with a skill saw?  Call the ambulance.  Catch the woods on fire while burning a pile of leaves when it hasn't rained in 78 days?  Call the fire department.  That's how the it works.

[GH2001]

Vote dimocrat much??????

I don't see where that has anything to do with the position he has taken. I agree with him BTW. Guess that makes me a democrat now. 

[Tarheel]

...

Govt can't control everything.

I think that The ONE, Pelosi, and Reid would disagree with you on that point.

[RWS]

Straw fucking man.

A security alarm is the ONLY reason the popo would charge you for their assistance.  If you dialed 911 because someone was trying to break into your house, the popo would likely drive 150 mph to your residence and be severely pissed if there wasn't an ass to whip when they arrived. 

Holy shit.  Are you serious?  Who do you think emergency organizations spend 90% of their time dealing with?  Cut your finger off with a skill saw?  Call the ambulance.  Catch the woods on fire while burning a pile of leaves when it hasn't rained in 78 days?  Call the fire department.  That's how the it works.

^^ THIS x100.

Emergency organizations exist to fix your fuckups and protect you no matter how stupid you are. We wager on the side of knowing somebody, somewhere, is going to do something stupid. I understand the argument that people should exercise common sense. And dallaswareagle, I understand that you just can't see how this is my truth and not reality to the rest of the world. But, it really is the reality of anybody that works in any line of emergency services. I know it sounds crazy and might be hard for somebody on the outside to understand, but if you worked a few months doing what we do, I think you would totally understand it.

[Tiger Wench]

The examples you gave in that last post are all medical emergencies.  I dare say that had there been people in the house, the responding firemen would have gone in after them.  But since all humans were accounted for and unharmed, the property is replaceable.  VERY different situation.

[Snaggletiger]

The examples you gave in that last post are all medical emergencies.  I dare say that had there been people in the house, the responding firemen would have gone in after them.  But since all humans were accounted for and unharmed, the property is replaceable.  VERY different situation.

Sorry, but not different at all.  Funny how no one has addressed the earlier posts about the potential collateral damage.  In fact, the fire was spreading to the neighbors home, who had paid the $75.00.  He just happened to be there and make the call.  Again, would that neighbor be a happy camper if he happened not to be home and his house went up in flames?  BTW, Cranick was trying to stop the spread that was in fact going towards his neighbors home.  Regardless of whether or not this dude paid his $75.00, a home going up in flames is a serious emergency that has the potential to do untold damage to other property and persons.  The fire department should have responded even if they weren't going to pump water to this guy's home.  They didn't until a paying customer called.   

[dallaswareagle]

^^ THIS x100.

Emergency organizations exist to fix your fuckups and protect you no matter how stupid you are. We wager on the side of knowing somebody, somewhere, is going to do something stupid. I understand the argument that people should exercise common sense. And dallaswareagle, I understand that you just can't see how this is my truth and not reality to the rest of the world. But, it really is the reality of anybody that works in any line of emergency services. I know it sounds crazy and might be hard for somebody on the outside to understand, but if you worked a few months doing what we do, I think you would totally understand it.

I do see your side (your truth) and respect your opinion on this. I just disagree with it. To me it all comes down to this. The person knew that he had to pay $75.00 for fire protection. He chooses not to. His place caught on fire.  Life’s a bitch.

Your most likely right, you understand more about a person when you walk a mile in their shoes.

I have just seen too many people fuck shit up and then want someone to fix it for them. Or blame someone else. The Drunk driver blames the bartender. The child molester blames his parents. The guy who robs the stores blames drugs.

This H/O may be the nicest guy in the world and made a mistake by not paying. You know responsibility is an adult thing. Sometime you take it on the chin.

[Saniflush]

I do see your side (your truth) and respect your opinion on this. I just disagree with it. To me it all comes down to this. The person knew that he had to pay $75.00 for fire protection. He chooses not to. His place caught on fire.  Life’s a bitch.

Your most likely right, you understand more about a person when you walk a mile in their shoes.

I have just seen too many people fuck shit up and then want someone to fix it for them. Or blame someone else. The Drunk driver blames the bartender. The child molester blames his parents. The guy who robs the stores blames drugs.

This H/O may be the nicest guy in the world and made a mistake by not paying. You know responsibility is an adult thing. Sometime you take it on the chin.

What happened to blaming sexy children?

[dallaswareagle]

What happened to blaming sexy children?

The internet police are everywhere.

[AUTailgatingRules]

Let's say I don't pay my power bill in the middle of january, it's -10 degrees for a week or two, and I am in danger of freezing to death.  To me this is a dire emergency, to the power company not so much.

Should the power company turn my power back on even though I did not pay?

[dallaswareagle]

Let's say I don't pay my power bill in the middle of january, it's -10 degrees for a week or two, and I am in danger of freezing to death.  To me this is a dire emergency, to the power company not so much.

Should the power company turn my power back on even though I did not pay?

This could be life or death-So (you hope they) don’t cut it off.

Plus there are outside agency’s that can help you with this.

Plus you have to look at payment history-Maybe lost bill.

3rd month you have not paid. Better get some blankets.

[Token]

I have just seen too many people fuck shit up and then want someone to fix it for them. Or blame someone else. The Drunk driver blames the bartender. The child molester blames his parents. The guy who robs the stores blames drugs.

I agree with this, 1000%.  I just don't view this guy in the same light as a criminal. 

I could go into a big spill about what it takes to work in emergency services, but I'll spare the bravado bullshit.  There's a time to follow policy, and there's a time to break policy.  The best firemen/policemen/EMT services know when to cross that line. 

Sitting in the firehall playing with your dicks when the call came in?  Time to follow policy.  He didn't pay, his fault. 

Responding to the original call because a paying customer's shit is about to burn, only to arrive and see the family in their yard watching their life burn to the ground?  Time to break policy. 

Those guys are pussies, and I'd tell it to their face.

[AUTailgatingRules]

I agree with this, 1000%.  I just don't view this guy in the same light as a criminal. 

I could go into a big spill about what it takes to work in emergency services, but I'll spare the bravado bullshit.  There's a time to follow policy, and there's a time to break policy.  The best firemen/policemen/EMT services know when to cross that line. 

Sitting in the firehall playing with your dicks when the call came in?  Time to follow policy.  He didn't pay, his fault. 

Responding to the original call because a paying customer's shit is about to burn, only to arrive and see the family in their yard watching their life burn to the ground?  Time to break policy. 

Those guys are pussies, and I'd tell it to their face.

I'm pretty sure you have it backwards in your understanding of this incident.  The guy who did not pay was the first to call and the dept would not respond.  The guy who did pay called later and they came to protect his property.  By the time the dept got there the non paying customer's house was already a total loss

[Token]

Let's say I don't pay my power bill in the middle of january, it's -10 degrees for a week or two, and I am in danger of freezing to death.  To me this is a dire emergency, to the power company not so much.

Should the power company turn my power back on even though I did not pay?

Is your provider Alabama Power?  If so, they have this problem covered in policy.  They will NOT turn your power off in extreme temperatures, hot or cold.  If your provider isn't Alabama Power, I can't answer your question. 

I'm pretty sure you have it backwards in your understanding of this incident.  The guy who did not pay was the first to call and the dept would not respond.  The guy who did pay called later and they came to protect his property.  By the time the dept got there the non paying customer's house was already a total loss

Hmm.  If that's the case, then yeah I've misunderstood.  I was under the impression the first callers house was still burning when the firemen arrived.  Even if the house itself couldn't be lived in again, they still had personal property that could possibly be salvaged.  If the house had already burnt to the ground, then I have no complaint.

[Snaggletiger]

Is your provider Alabama Power?  If so, they have this problem covered in policy.  They WILL not turn your power off in extreme temperatures, hot or cold.  If your provider isn't Alabama Power, I can't answer your question. 

Hmm.  If that's the case, then yeah I've misunderstood.  I was under the impression the first callers house was still burning when the firemen arrived.  Even if the house itself couldn't be lived in again, they still had personal property that could possibly be salvaged.  If the house had already burnt to the ground, then I have no complaint.

Nope, you've got it right.  The first caller didn't pay and yes his home was burning to the gorund.  And yes, so many questions are being avoided in many people's black and white world.

[AUTailgatingRules]

Is your provider Alabama Power?  If so, they have this problem covered in policy.  They WILL not turn your power off in extreme temperatures, hot or cold.  If your provider isn't Alabama Power, I can't answer your question. 

Hmm.  If that's the case, then yeah I've misunderstood.  I was under the impression the first callers house was still burning when the firemen arrived.  Even if the house itself couldn't be lived in again, they still had personal property that could possibly be salvaged.  If the house had already burnt to the ground, then I have no complaint.

How long does it take for your average trailer to burn to the ground?  I'm sure there were some personal items that could have been saved, but you have to live your own decision not to pay for the service. 


Remember the guy actuall said, "Ithought they would respond even if i did not pay"

[Token]

How long does it take for your average trailer to burn to the ground?

Are you asking, or are you insinuating that fire departments shouldn't respond to trailer fires because they burn so fast? 

I'm sure there were some personal items that could have been saved, 

I'm sure of it too.  And they just stood there and made sure it didn't burn any paying customer's shit down.  Hell, I think they even pulled the hoses and sprayed down the fence, but they couldn't spray the house? 

but you have to live your own decision not to pay for the service. 
Remember the guy actuall said, "Ithought they would respond even if i did not pay"

My argument isn't whether or not the guy is responsible for not paying the fine.  I even stated that I didn't have a problem with the FD originally not going because of policy. But to show up, pull the hoses, turn the water on and not put any on the house trailer fire?  That's some sorry assholes.  And that shit will catch up with them one way or the other. 

We have a lot of different arguments going here.  So for the record, I'm not arguing if the guy should be responsible.  I'm not arguing that he isn't a dumbass for thinking they'd show up even if he didn't pay.  I'm saying I'd be ashamed if they were on a city payroll that I contributed taxes to.  And I'm saying that if that BS happened in my JD, I would show them the same courtesy they showed that family when I stopped them for doing 60 in a 35. 

After all, policy is policy.  Right?  Press hard, 4 copies.