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Tennessee Firefighters Let Home Burn Over Subscription Issue
JASON HIBBS
WPSD
Reprinted with Permission
OBION COUNTY, Tenn. - 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.
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- MSNBC: No pay, no spray: Firefighters let home burn
FireEMSBlogs.com Updates
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.
This fire went on for hours because garden hoses just wouldn't put it out. It wasn't until that fire spread to a neighbor's property, that anyone would respond.
Turns out, the neighbor had paid the fee.
"I thought they'd come out and put it out, even if you hadn't paid your $75, but I was wrong," said Gene Cranick.
Because of that, not much is left of Cranick's house.
They called 911 several times, and initially the South Fulton Fire Department would not come.
The Cranicks told 9-1-1 they would pay firefighters, whatever the cost, to stop the fire before it spread to their house.
"When I called I told them that. My grandson had already called there and he thought that when I got here I could get something done, I couldn't," Paulette Cranick.
It was only when a neighbor's field caught fire, a neighbor who had paid the county fire service fee, that the department responded. Gene Cranick asked the fire chief to make an exception and save his home, the chief wouldn't.
We asked him why.
He wouldn't talk to us and called police to have us escorted off the property. Police never came but firefighters quickly left the scene. Meanwhile, the Cranick home continued to burn.
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.
Friends and neighbors said it's a cruel and dangerous city policy but the Cranicks don't blame the firefighters themselves. They blame the people in charge.
"They're doing their job," Paulette Cranick said of the firefighters. "They're doing what they are told to do. It's not their fault."
To give you an idea of just how intense the feelings got in this situation, soon after the fire department returned to the station, the Obion County Sheriff's Department said someone went there and assaulted one of the firefighters.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Daniel Gormley on
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I would be afraid to hear the rules about human life being involved... Homeowner: "My mom is trapped Fire Captain: "Sorry, you all did not pay the designated fee so we will not help you" ...... Im sorry, I cannot see anyone actually going into public service and have no issues with denying public service. Apparently it'd different in the back woods areas of the United States but so you all know, in almost EVERY state and county, 911 and EMS service IS provided, without an up front fee. To deny your local citizens this service, pending some bogus fee, is in humane. I my self would refuse to pay the fee. But then again, I live in a state that takes care of their residents. Why would someone NOT want to help someone else when it comes to extreme situations? Why would anyone that chooses a public service job, want to refuse giving public service? Im so confused on this and it pisses me off. If I had a house burning down, and the Fire Department came out to only service the house next door that paid the bullshit fee, I would take over the fire truck and put the fire out myself. Any persons attempting to stop me would find major issues. This is a humanitarian issue and any that oppose it are at fault.
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Permalink Reply by Eric Henderson on
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In most places we call the up front fee a tax and make everybody pay it whether they want to or not. The taxpayers in this place had that option and they turned it down.
The government offered a $50 tax, the taxpayers said no thank you, WE DON'T NEED FIRE PROTECTION.
The government offered a $75 fee to provide non tax-based services to those who wanted it and this guy said no thank you, I don't need fire protection.
Now his home is on fire and he says he needs fire protection. Maybe he should have thought about that when the government was offering it.
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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"This is a humanitarian issue and any that oppose it are at fault."
That's not even close to accurate, but it certainly is arrogant.
"Why would someone NOT want to help someone else when it comes to extreme situations?"
That's a Straw Man logical fallacy. No one said that the South Fulton firefighters didn't want to help.
And if those "bullshit fees" don't get paid, then South Fulton stops providing fire service to Obion County. At that point, the taxes that replace the "bullshit fees" will greatly exceed the $75 per year that the subscribers pay now.
"Any persones attempting to stop me would find major issues."
Yes, they would have to testify against you at your assault and battery trial and then pay for your food, shelter, and medical care while you served your prison time.
So, Daniel, do you go muscle your way onto the fireground in Dallas, Houston, or Austin?
After all, anyone that opposes you would be at fault, right?
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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EMS is different from fire protection, that being said, you should probably re-read what you've written here. You clearly advocate hijacking a municipal apparatus to perform what YOU think is the appropriate action. Any action taken by you would be against the law and you would be arrested. I don't think any major issue on your part would be significant. You'd be tazed. And it's not a humanitarian issue, it's one of taxes, fees, politics and property. As I've pointed out before, if the homeowner didn't think his property and belongings were worth $75, then why would the fire department risk lives to save his crap?
Moreover you stated that you "[your[ self would refuse to pay the fee." yet you still think you (and others) should STILL be protected? Why? Others actually pay the fee for fire protection but you're above that "bullshit fee". Frankly your hypocracy is disturbing and your bullshit appalling. Not to mention your complete lack of facts of the issue. But based on what (and how) you've written, I'm not at all surprised.
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I really want to know what the fuck is wrong with everyone????? Are we just that more human here in Texas or what? We dont stop to see who paid what before helping someone out. I find it so anti-American to just demand payment before doing basic humanitarian services. How is this even working? How do the local citizens even accept this insane position and not even fight for change? I am so boggled by all this. How can ANYONE just stand by and allow someone to suffer????? From watching the videos, I have my own opinions about the local public service personnel which I will now refrain from sharing due to me not wanting to embarrassing them anymore. I guess thats why Texas has qualified and trained EMS personnel.
People of Tennessee, quit putting up with this bullshit and demand quality public service. Sounds like those that support the wrongness of all this are so misled by your local government. There are basic rights and here in Texas, you have the right to basic public services like EMS and Police without having to pay some crazy up front fee.
If you are happy with what is going on in Tennessee, then please stay in Tennessee.
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Mike,
The system in Obion County is different from what you like. It's not in your state.
The homeowner knew the rules and he knew the consequenses.
So, do you routinely run calls out of your jurisdiction in places that don't pay taxes or fees to your jurisdiction? If not, then that high horse you're riding is pulling up lame.
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And if those "bullshit fees" don't get paid, then South Fulton stops providing fire service to Obion County. At that point, the taxes that replace the "bullshit fees" will greatly exceed the $75 per year that the subscribers pay now.
Actually, the taxes would be cheaper. The county offered a $50 tax, and the taxpayers turned it down. So instead, those who want fire protection have to pay $25 more than they would have paid in taxes if all of their neighbors had agreed to contribute.
It would be interesting to see what percentage of residents pay the subscription, since I'm sure they would all be happy to see their annual payments for fire protection go down $25 by forcing their non-subscription-paying neighbors to pay a tax.
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EMS is different from fire protection
How exactly do you figure that EMS is different from fire protection? It costs money to operate an ambulance and to pay EMTs and Paramedics just as it costs money to operate Fire Engines and pay Firefighters. The only difference is that in EMS the majority of services are postpaid, so that the services are paid for after they are used. You well could provide a prepaid EMS service that charges taxes or subscription fees and provides services only to those who pay ahead of time, much like you could in theory provide a fire protection service which bills homeowners only after services are used (which, one might argue, should have been done in this circumstance)
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Do the math. Obion County has around 30,000 residents, not counting the residents of South Fulton, who wouldn't pay the county fire tax.
Figure an average of 3 residents per household, so that's 10,000 residents.
10,000 residences x $50 per year is a total budget of $500,000 per year.
Let's say we start with two stations. If we build a really cheap, bare-bones butler building, that's $100,000 per station, so we're down to $150,000 per station for both capital and operating expenses. A REALLY cheap commercial pumper costs $100,000 each, so now we're down to $100,000 to fund both stations for the rest of the year. That's with no training, no turnout gear, no equipment, no SCBA, no furniture in the stations, and the other parts of the county complaining because they are not living in the lucky neighborhoods that got the fire stations, but they're still paying the same fire taxes.
Then there's the little problem of the un-hydranted areas in the County, and the need for tankers. Guess what, tankers are not free.
Etc, etc.
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In Texas, EMS is the Fire Department. I can guarantee you that any reputable Fire Fighter will disagree with you on this. There is a lot of compassion and integrity with our community here and to just sit back and allow this past situation to happen, would cause an uproar here. It is unfortunate that the Tennessee community are so lost as to basic humanitarian rights that each county should provide. I am very vocal about this and I find it hard to believe that people like you exist. How can you condone the destruction of property and life as the result of failure to pay a fee. That is the most bizarre thing I have ever heard and as you will soon see, almost all of America will agree that the actions of the local Fire Department and the office of the Mayor were at fault. As a Fire Fighter or EMS personnel, you have a certain oath to maintain. Denial of that is is a denial of our basic living rights. No county or city is above basic humanitarian rights.
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You answered your own question, if you'd care to re-read what you posted.
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Bovine feces.
Does your fire department fight fires in Dallas, Houston, or Austin?
San Antonio? Lubbock? Waco?
If not, then you're not a humanitarian, and we'll all be justified in vilifying you for your basic lack of humanitariansim.
Irving isn't obligated to provide fire protection in any other city, and South Fulton isn't obligated to provide fire services in Obion County, except where there's a subscriber contract in force.
Further, you used another Straw Man logical fallacy - no one is "condoniing the destruction of property and life". In fact, there weren't even any injuries in this incident, so when you start talking about "condoning the destruction of...life" you're just flatly making it up.
Pay attention, get some facts, and lose the arrogance. I'll give you credit for one thing - in an earlier post, when you said that you were confused, the rest of us had already figured it out.
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