Fees and Fires
I can't believe this actually happened (from the Duluth News Tribune via FireFightingNews.com):
Carl Berg failed to pay a$25 annual fee for rural fire protection and, as a result, firefighters let his house burn to the ground last month near International Falls.
You need to read the whole article, but here are key points.
The firefighters apparently responded and pumped some water to make sure the fire didn't spread beyond the house, but they didn't extinguish the fire. It then rekindled, and they didn't return to put the fire out for good.
The fire was in a mobile home, so I'm not sure how much of the house or contents would have been salvageable, even after the initial blaze.
The firefighters and government officials should be ashamed for letting a funding problem affect the service they provide to the public.
I agree with this sentiment from the article:
A retired suburban Chicago fire chief, Billig said, "I could not respond to a fire and not put it out. I'll put the fire out and then worry about the money situation."
Posted October 10, 2005 09:23 AM · Link
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