Couple claims firefighters refused to put out fire at their home

[The Batman]

SOUTH FULTON, TN (KFVS) - An Obion County couple claims they lost their home, three dogs and a cat last week because South Fulton firefighters refused to put out the blaze.

"I called 911," said homeowner Paulette Cranick. "They said, 'We're trying to get them out there but they're not cooperating,' or words to that effect."

The reason, according to Cranick, is because her home was not located within the South Fulton city limits, and neither she nor her husband Gene had paid the required $75 annual fee for rural fire coverage.

South Fulton City manager Jeff Vowell confirmed the Cranicks had not paid the fee, which has been the department's policy since 1990. Cranick said her failure to pay was an oversight.

"I've paid it many, many times," Cranick said, "I just haven't gotten around to it (this year)." Cranick pointed out that the fire station is on the edge of town and "we don't go out that way every often."

Cranick said the fire started Wednesday, September 29, when her son was burning papers inside a burn barrel on the property. Cranick was unsure exactly how the grass around the barrel caught fire, but said the blaze eventually spread to her home.

A passerby and several neighbors helped put out the fire with a water hose, but Cranick said South Fulton firefighters didn't respond until the blaze spread to her neighbor's yard. Her neighbors had paid the annual fire protection fee.

Even more puzzling to Cranick is why firefighters failed to respond to her home when, according to her, they had helped people in the past who hadn't paid.

"It doesn't make sense," she said. "Two or three years ago this house up here caught fire. My son lives there but they waived the fee." Cranick said South Fulton firefighters had also previously helped people but sternly reminded them to pay the fee the next day.

"I guess they have to let a house burn once in awhile to teach us a lesson," Cranick said.

The mayor has not commented, nor has anyone with the South Fulton Fire Department.

Source: http://www.kfvs12.com/Global/story.asp?S=13266558

[DarkHorses]

Seriously? They let a house burn all because of $75? That's ridiculous. Just really shows how obsessed with money people are. I think the firefighters could have lived without the $75 dollars long enough to put out one fire.

[trackstar9.875]

I've heard several sides of this story - all day long - on the radio.

What I haven't heard is: The fire department has put out fires - in the past - for those NOT paying the fee. All of a sudden, they decide to make an example out of this family?

This family (as I've heard it) lived OUTSIDE the City Limits, where the payment of property taxes automatically provide emergency (fire) services. If outside the City limits, the $ 75.00 fee applies. Pretty "cut-and-dry" the way I hear it.

Now, the lady "exclaims" she "hasn't gotten around to paying the fee - THIS YEAR." SAY WHAT??

Lady....in case you haven't noticed...IT'S OCTOBER...ah...ten....COUNT THEM...TEN MONTHS into the year!! When MIGHT you GET AROUND TO IT? Only 76...ah, COUNT THEM...76 days remain - IN THIS YEAR!!

I bet it's a fee that you'll FIND/MAKE TIME...to GET AROUND TO from now on!

Don't they spell that: "A ROUNDTUIT?"

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[Amnesiac]

Ah, local government: failing to provide basic services again.

[Jess]

that's just ridiculous

[Asylum]

that's horrible :( they should've helped them. they should've put out the fire... people are riddiculous now a days...

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[huginnmuninn]

and they want the gov't to be in charge of health care...

[Amnesiac]

and they want the gov't to be in charge of health care...

county government ≠ federal government

[The Ninja]

Someone in my class did this for current events :P.
They thought it was perfectly fair that they didnt put out the fire along with my teacher.
I feel a bit nuetral because yeah it was $75 but if no body paid there $75 dollars than they would be un funded and unable to put out any fires. I have a feeling that if they had put out the fire it would have had just as much of an effect on the media though.

county government ≠ federal government
Not to get off topic or anything but you want them to take over healthcare anyway?!?!?!

[Amnesiac]

Someone in my class did this for current events :P.
They thought it was perfectly fair that they didnt put out the fire along with my teacher.
I feel a bit nuetral because yeah it was $75 but if no body paid there $75 dollars than they would be un funded and unable to put out any fires. I have a feeling that if they had put out the fire it would have had just as much of an effect on the media though.


Not to get off topic or anything but you want them to take over healthcare anyway?!?!?!

I have to disagree. Fire protection is a basic public service. It shouldn't be a "a la carte" thing only for those who can pay.

Also, I wouldn't mind government "taking over" (lolnotreally) healthcare if they would stop pandering to the right and actually do something. Subsidized healthcare that people are forced to buy is nowhere near as good as universal government-provided healthcare for those that aren't able to afford it.

[The Ninja]

I have to disagree. Fire protection is a basic public service. It shouldn't be a "a la carte" thing only for those who can pay.

Also, I wouldn't mind government "taking over" (lolnotreally) healthcare if they would stop pandering to the right and actually do something. Subsidized healthcare that people are forced to buy is nowhere near as good as universal government-provided healthcare for those that aren't able to afford it.

Ok i better not get into the healthcare debate just because i have a feeling that i have no idea what i am talking about.

[Amnesiac]

Ok i better not get into the healthcare debate just because i have a feeling that i have no idea what i am talking about.

Well, you should research it.

It's off topic anyway, don't want the mods coming in :P

[The Ninja]

I suppose I agree it should be something everyone gets whether thy pay or not. ill be sure to smack my teacher upside the head lol jk.

[Amnesiac]

I suppose I agree it should be something everyone gets whether thy pay or not. ill be sure to smack my teacher upside the head lol jk.

Well good, I'm happy you changed your mind. And yeah, try not to assault your teacher :P

[bluestarkidd]

So what happens if the fire really got out of control and burned down the entire town? I wonder everyone would still be agreeing that the fire department did the right thing.

In a country that has about 500,000 homeless people and about 19 million vacant homes, I am not sure why anyone is so shocked at this story.

But, hey that's capitalism for you, well Americas skewed version of capitalism.

[trackstar9.875]

So what happens if the fire really got out of control and burned down the entire town? I wonder everyone would still be agreeing that the fire department did the right thing.

In a country that has about 500,000 homeless people and about 19 million vacant homes, I am not sure why anyone is so shocked at this story.

But, hey that's capitalism for you, well Americas skewed version of capitalism.

Burn down THE ENTIRE TOWN? Give us a break!

Their house burned down because they FAILED to pay the fee. What if they FAIL to pay for flood insurance (if in a flood plane)and it floods?..Who do we blame then? GOD? Trust me; He'll "gladly" accept the blame!

As for the homeless, 90+ percent of homeless people are there because of POOR DECISIONS they've made in life...and THE FACTS ARE: They keep making the same POOR decisions.

Kind of like the definition of Insanity: Repeatedly doing the SAME THING, expecting a different result - EVERY TIME!

As for capitalism (which has worked for a lot of years) you think SOCIALISM is better? I guess you've played baseball - ONE GAME TOO MANY! It's ok to be "team oriented"...but not every AMBITIOUS PERSON wants to TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM!

[Amnesiac]

Burn down THE ENTIRE TOWN? Give us a break!

Their house burned down because they FAILED to pay the fee. What if they FAIL to pay for flood insurance (if in a flood plane)and it floods?..Who do we blame then? GOD? Trust me; He'll "gladly" accept the blame!

As for the homeless, 90+ percent of homeless people are there because of POOR DECISIONS they've made in life...and THE FACTS ARE: They keep making the same POOR decisions.

Kind of like the definition of Insanity: Repeatedly doing the SAME THING, expecting a different result - EVERY TIME!

As for capitalism (which has worked for a lot of years) you think SOCIALISM is better? I guess you've played baseball - ONE GAME TOO MANY! It's ok to be "team oriented"...but not every AMBITIOUS PERSON wants to TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM!

Oh lawd.

It't the RESPONSIBILITY of GOVERNMENT to provide BASIC SERVICES to the people. Fire PROTECTION is NOT the same as INSURANCE. I would like to know where you got your STATISTICS for your claim that NINETY PERCENT of homeless people are HOMELESS because they made BAD DECISIONS.

Why is it that a family living INSIDE the city gets FREE fire protection, but someone LIVING OUTSIDE the city DOESN'T?

CAPITALISM is just as FLAWED as SOCIALISM, it is a CAREFUL mix of government REGULATION and free market POLICIES that keep the ECONOMY afloat. Not EVERY SERVICE should come with a PRICE tag. Should we start PAYING for POLICE PROTECTION too?

Also, stop USING capitalized WORDS so many TIMES. It's the INTERNET.

[Suicune]

Should we start PAYING for POLICE PROTECTION too?

Yeah, that's what we need. Somebody's at gunpoint, help costs $75. Whoops.

This is just ridiculous. My state has fire departments everywhere, and even the ones miles away come to help free of charge. Put out the fire first, then argue about money.

[The Ninja]

Oh lawd.

It't the RESPONSIBILITY of GOVERNMENT to provide BASIC SERVICES to the people. Fire PROTECTION is NOT the same as INSURANCE. I would like to know where you got your STATISTICS for your claim that NINETY PERCENT of homeless people are HOMELESS because they made BAD DECISIONS.

Why is it that a family living INSIDE the city gets FREE fire protection, but someone LIVING OUTSIDE the city DOESN'T?

CAPITALISM is just as FLAWED as SOCIALISM, it is a CAREFUL mix of government REGULATION and free market POLICIES that keep the ECONOMY afloat. Not EVERY SERVICE should come with a PRICE tag. Should we start PAYING for POLICE PROTECTION too?

Also, stop USING capitalized WORDS so many TIMES. It's the INTERNET.

I agree most homeless people are homeless because they have lost there job.

[Suicune]

I agree most homeless people are homeless because they have lost their job.

Not always the case.

I'd say generally due to fire, criminal record, ice, eviction, flood, and addictions altogether make up most of the homeless population than a lost job.

[The Ninja]

Not always the case.

I'd say generally due to fire, criminal record, ice, eviction, flood, and addictions altogether make up most of the homeless population than a lost job.

well yeah but atleast 1/3 of those things could be due a to loss of job.

[Sith Lord 13]

county government ≠ federal government

Yeah, and 99% of the time, (Hyperbole, not statistic before anyone decides to be stupid) county government is better.

Honestly, my question is why is the $75 itemized in the first place? It should be part of property taxes.

[bluestarkidd]

Burn down THE ENTIRE TOWN? Give us a break!

Their house burned down because they FAILED to pay the fee. What if they FAIL to pay for flood insurance (if in a flood plane)and it floods?..Who do we blame then? GOD? Trust me; He'll "gladly" accept the blame!

As for the homeless, 90+ percent of homeless people are there because of POOR DECISIONS they've made in life...and THE FACTS ARE: They keep making the same POOR decisions.

Kind of like the definition of Insanity: Repeatedly doing the SAME THING, expecting a different result - EVERY TIME!

As for capitalism (which has worked for a lot of years) you think SOCIALISM is better? I guess you've played baseball - ONE GAME TOO MANY! It's ok to be "team oriented"...but not every AMBITIOUS PERSON wants to TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM!

and people wonder what happened to America...

As kids in school were raised to help our neighbor, if you have extra give it to someone who has none...etc.. But all that shyt goes out the door in the real world. Its a grab all you can while you can at any price...

and as far as homelessness goes....a lot has changed, its not the deadbeats anymore, look around, there are a lot of people who did the right thing and are homeless. If you look at the past, the average family in America has far less discretionary income in today's dollars than 30-40 years ago.