TN department refuses to respond

There are still a few no pay no spray departments around. South Fulton is in west TN located on the KY border with Fulton KY. Typical in TN that municipal FD's do not respond outside the city limits. Until the last 20-30 years most counties did not have fire protection outside the municipal limits. We are now seeing fire districts being formed that are incorporating city funded departments. My department is paid by the county govt to respond to calls outside our city limits.
 
After reading the article I googled subscription fire departments and found not only are there a number of fire departments that are still subscription service but also ems and paramedic subscription services as well.  It was a surprise as to some of the locations where these exist.
 
What would they do if there was entrapement, just watch someone DIE!!!
 
What is even more crazy, sometimes the dispatch, depending on what agency handles that function will not send the proper agency first! Many rural counties want the PD or county Sheriff's department to "check it out" first! If it is bad or they need to duck because the s@#t has hit the fan, they scream for us to "rush it up"! Really tough to rush it up on a twelve mile run! My EMS units routinely make runs in the 6-15 mile range!
 
How can you even consider yourself a firefighter if you stand by and watch a person's pets and home burn up?
That is a disgrace. Subscription policy notwithstanding, what happened there is a crime
 
If the firefighters did the decide the fight the fire, the problem then arises of disciplinary action against them as a result of the policy, as well as a precedent set for others in the area to stop paying for the service with the expectation of getting free fire protection as well.  Screwed if you do, screwed if you don't.

It's the system that needs changing, not the firefighters.
 
I'll take the screwing for "doing" without hesitation. You have to be a real low-life to watch someone's property burn up and not engage. A disgrace not matter how you slice it
 
As a firefighter and later as a boss, I always struggled with the no pay no spray concept. However I do understand the economics behind the concept. If people want fire protection, they should pay for it. If I live in a municipality/firedistrict that funds adequate fire protection, why should I support an outlying resident who does not pay for nor want protection receive the benefits?

Rural Metro Corporation is basically a subscription service. Pay a small amount on the front end or pay a larger amount on the backend if you call for service. Tennessee has a fire district law on the books that allows the formation and the ability to tax for fire protection but to my knowledge, not one of the ninety five counties has a fire district that taxes for revenue. If the T word is used, it will always be defeated!
 
vbcapt said:
Do people in Tenn. pay property taxes for municipal/county services ?
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Yes they pay property taxes but fire protection is not one of the they're paying for in many cases.  I know it sounds silly but their taxes cover gov't and police protection but not much else in many cases.  It's just the way it always has been something that most of us find unbelievable.  It's certainly not done that way in as many places as it used to be but it still happens.
 
Ok thanks Bulldog. I still think it's archaic & inhuman to say the least. I think Tennessee needs to rethink how they perform their fire services and quick. What are they going to do next, let someone burn up in a structure ?
 
All well stated, but what do you do if there is a life hazard or potential life hazard involved? Spray the exposure (who pays) and watch the non-payer go down in flames?
 
Found out today that the Cheatham County Fire/Rescue Squad here in TN, will respond to your house if didn't pay upfront but you do get a bill afterwards. Here is what I was told.
It's $10 an hour per Firefighter
It's $250 an hour for each fire truck that is on scene.
If equipment is lost or damaged the homeowner will have to pay.
It's crazy and STUPID!!!
 
??? In a perverse sort of way I can undertand the refusal to fight the fire. If someone had been injured/killed what would be the ramnifications? But to stand by idely and watch a house, its contents, and the pets go out up in flames, well I do not undertand that. This is the problem of subscription departments, f&*ked if you do, f&*ked if you don't. ??? :( :-[ :'(
 
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