I thought this was an Onion article....

[Rman]

Imagine your home catches fire but the local fire department won’t respond, then watches it burn. That’s exactly what happened to a local family tonight. A local neighborhood is furious after firefighters watched as an Obion County, Tennessee, home burned to the ground.

The homeowner, Gene Cranick, said he offered to pay whatever it would take for firefighters to put out the flames, but was told it was too late. They wouldn’t do anything to stop his house from burning. Each year, Obion County residents must pay $75 if they want fire protection from the city of South Fulton. But the Cranicks did not pay. The mayor said if homeowners don’t pay, they’re out of luck. [...]

We asked the mayor of South Fulton if the chief could have made an exception. “Anybody that’s not in the city of South Fulton, it’s a service we offer, either they accept it or they don’t,” Mayor David Crocker said.

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/10/04/county-firefighters-subscription/

Wow, man.  I know I'm late to this, but this is ridiculous.

[Himu]

Reading up on the situation, it takes place in a rural area with volunteer firefighters. While I don't agree with the situation there's not much to say because it could have been prevented by paying an annual 75 dollar fee.

[Rman]

But what if the fire spread to other houses?  I don't know, man, but fighting fires is a public safety issue, not just a convenient service.

[Fresh Prince]

Free market principles, eh?
At least they should of saved the house and then billed the owners.

[Rman]

Free market principles, eh?
At least they should of saved the house and then billed the owners.

That's another thing that's just distinguished mentally-challenged.  Why could they just fine them after the fact? But then no one will pay for the subscription I guess. I don't know why they couldn't add the fee to their property taxes.

[Dickie Dee]

Fine them the $75?

[Himu]

But what if the fire spread to other houses?  I don't know, man, but fighting fires is a public safety issue, not just a convenient service.

Apparently it's in a rural area where there aren't any other houses for miles. So it makes sense, doesn't make it right though.

[Rman]

Fine them the $75?

Not the 75, but a fee similar to the service rendered.  Similar to if you get medical treatment without insurance.  You'll end up paying more, but you still get treatment.  It's just unfathomable to think of firefighters just letting a house burn while they watch.

[Tieno]

Isn't this libertarian shit?

[Fresh Prince]

What Rman said. The number of firefighters x hours worked + equipment etc.

[Phoenix Dark]

[Brehvolution]

Libertarian justice. While I don't necessarily agree with what happened, it goes to show that if you choose not to pay for social services you should be denied them in time of need.

[Great Rumbler]

They should have just put out the fire and then charged them for the service [maybe something like $150-$200, to make the subscription more viable].

[Bloodwake]

If firefighters stood outside and watched my house and all of my possessions burn up and didn't do anything to stop it, there would be some dead firefighters.

[Great Rumbler]

Seriously, if you're in a position to help prevent someone's entire life and all their possessions from being completely burned up then you HELP THEM. It shouldn't have anything to do with money. AT ALL.

[AdmiralViscen]

Free market principles, eh?
At least they should of saved the house and then billed the owners.

That's another thing that's just distinguished mentally-challenged.  Why could they just fine them after the fact? But then no one will pay for the subscription I guess. I don't know why they couldn't add the fee to their property taxes.

taxes are evil. the mayor is an americamn hero.

[Human Snorenado]

But what if the fire spread to other houses?  I don't know, man, but fighting fires is a public safety issue, not just a convenient service.

Apparently it's in a rural area where there aren't any other houses for miles. So it makes sense, doesn't make it right though.

Would it have still made sense if someone was trapped in the house?  You're a fucking idiot.

[Himu]

Not

But what if the fire spread to other houses?  I don't know, man, but fighting fires is a public safety issue, not just a convenient service.

Apparently it's in a rural area where there aren't any other houses for miles. So it makes sense, doesn't make it right though.

Would it have still made sense if someone was trapped in the house?  You're a fucking idiot.

No one was stuck in the house.

I'm not saying I agree with it, but the law says to pay or have no fire department.

Doesn't stop it from being distinguished mentally-challenged, though.

[Mupepe]

It's a trailer.  Let it burn.  we don't need any more of those in this country.

[HyperZoneWasAwesome]

Its possible that the fire was too far gone to for the likely small town fireteam to be able to do anything about it.  Isn't that possible?