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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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.

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Permalink Reply by Herb Genelly III on October 10, 2010 at 4:23am

The issue I raised is specific to the incident under discussion. That's the only one that is pertinent.

It's only pertinent to you, because you want it to be. If you go and allow exceptions, but then change, you tell your residents one thing, and do another. You tell your residents that in the past, it was OK to skip the subscription. How that isn't applicable is, well, pure Straw Man bologna on your part.

Heck...........after this mess.............folks went to fire stations to try to pay a subscription, only to be told they didn't have to because their department doesn't utilize the subscription program (yet). That's how confused those folks are in Olbion...........as well as you seem to be.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on October 10, 2010 at 9:55am

You've got to be kidding me. Do you SERIOUSLY think your logical fallacies are pertinent?

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Permalink Reply by George on October 10, 2010 at 9:55am

I don't live a great distance from where all this has happened. I know county fire has been an issue with Obion county for years. It is my understanding that the city contacted him several times to let him know his subscription had run out. I know in our city the subscribers are notified several times before they are taken out.I think in one of the news releases he starts saying he didn't pay thinking they would come anyway and then goes on to say the just forgot it. I would not expect my insurance to pay for damages if I let it lapse and don't think this is a lot different. You gamble when you don't pay for services/insurance. And as a lot of you know not using good sense when burning outside is where this all started. No burn ban on in that area if I am not mistaken at that time. And if that is right they chose to burn in spite of it.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on October 10, 2010 at 9:59am

Your question about John and me has no relevance, because once again you're attacking the people instead of the idea. That's an ad hominem logical fallacy. Do you even understand the concept of "logic".

Legally, it does NOT matter what the homeowner expected.
If he expected something that wasn't reality, then that meets the definition of a delusion.

Delusions have no legal standing, and that's a FACT.

Yes, you finally got around to stating fact. It has the same value to this conversation as if you'd said "Mars is a planet". That's a fact, and it's equally non-pertinent.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on October 10, 2010 at 1:11pm

Some very telling comments from the fire chief of Union City - one of South Fulton's neighbors. Statter911...

"But here is what the public doesn’t understand. Right, wrong or indifferent, it was not the decision of the South Fulton Fire Chief or of his firefighters to not put water on the structure. Their orders came from their city manager and mayor and council. Was it wrong? Everyone has an opinion (We would have put it out if for no other reason than that we had to come anyway and that was the damn fire that was endangering the neighbor who had the coverage.) If they had tried to put it out the chief would have been fired, the fire fighters terminated and there wouldn’t have been anybody left to help fight fire for the majority of the rural residents in their area who do pay the annual fee."

"The remaining 5 departments (city departments) in the county have been going out into the county without a subscription service with the hope that after responding they will bill the home owner and collect. It hasn’t been working. One of these departments even though it is a city department, has to get change out of their outside coke machine that sits on the front of their station just to have money to put fuel in their tank. They get very little help from their own city, let alone NO revenue from the county. Financially these departments will be forced to either go to a subscription based service or draw back into their respective city limits. If that happens, there won’t be any fire protection in three quarters of the county."

"I as an individual have been catching holy hell this week from all over the country, and wasn’t even the department involved. All I have been trying to do is defend some brother firefighters who weren’t given a choice as to what they could do; defending a program, though not perfect has been a successful program in Union City at least for over 47 years. South Fulton has run theirs for 20. It’s kept the doors open and help provided protection to a majority of rural customers in our Union City area who if it were not for the blessing of our city government would not have any fire protection what so ever..." (emphasis supplied)

So...

1) SFFD is not a career department despite stories to the contrary.

2) The Fire Chief and firefighters did the best he could under the circumstances.

3) The city fathers of South Fulton made the only rational - and affordable - decision they can under the circumstances.

4) The county taxpayers who refuese to increase their taxes are ultimately responsible for the situation.

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Permalink Reply by Fireslayer960 on October 10, 2010 at 2:22pm

You know, normally I dont feed the trolls, but in this case I will make an exception. Yes, Ben, you are the troll I am referring to. If you do not know what a troll is, look it up, you fit the profile to a T.

First off, for a guy who tried to present himself as some great expert on everything, it amazes me that you dont even notice it when you are being ignored, and up until now, that is exactly what I have been doing. I suggest in the future, you do the same because I do not shoot from the hip like you, I DO verify my statements.

Now, to follow your mindset and point out your comment, Opionion? What is that? Some new kind of hybrid onion?

The name calling, lets see, It first started on page 2. The statement was, "Your an idiot" Not directed at me, nor made by you. But the fact is, that is when it started and unless it doesnt meet your requirements for being "Pertinent" then there is your proof of name calling. I have no desire to point out every instance of name calling after that, one example is proof enough

The condescending tone? THAT IS YOU BEN! I will refer you back to page three, "Your opinion is based on fantasy" It is only fantasy because the great Ben says it is! Page 6, real cute smart guy! Use your smart ass comments to a guy from New Zealand. Now thats the way to show respect to a brother from another country. "When is New Zealand going to start send us funds" Try and tell me Ben, that wasnt a cheap shot right? Need more? Refer to pages 14,16,17, and the list goes on.

Telling the guy that the military issue "doesnt fit", because the great Ben says it doesnt, but yet your dumb ass reference to "Bribery" does?

FACT! Up until you started trolling last night, there were 403 posts in this thread. 22 of those posts were people making comments that did not reflect a view either pro or con on the issue, they were simply asking questions or making comments like, SFFD has 1 Chief and three firefighters, in other words informative posts. 322 posts were repeat posters, such as myself, John, Herb, and of course you. 14 posters shared your view, thats right Ben,,14 The rest agree that it should have been extinguished. If you dont like my findings, do the research yourself, the posts are all still there. But I know, according to the great Ben that becomes irrelevant because it doesnt share his viewpoint. The president of IAFF becomes irrelevant because he doesnt. The major voice of society, including other countries becomes irrelevant because the great Ben is always right!

So with that said, do us both a favor, ignore my comments from this point on, the same way I have been ignoring you.

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Permalink Reply by WestPhilly on October 10, 2010 at 2:35pm

At least you answered my question, 960. Turns out the name-calling you were referring to was your own.

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Permalink Reply by Fireslayer960 on October 10, 2010 at 2:45pm

Typical, instead of reading and researching the facts for yourself, try and throw it my way,,LOL. I had not even joined this thread yet West when the name calling started

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Permalink Reply by Shawn Carnahan on October 10, 2010 at 2:48pm

First of all....Just a little note on the I have no jurisdiction to a neighboring community comment.....Then I guesss when your just out going from place to place or on your way to vacation or whatever....You come across a house on fire or an MVA and there are no fire units on scene...I guess your not gonna stop to help then....So your a bystander not a firefighter. The issues falls to the municipality's local government period. The local government has to provide fire protection....if they wish to contract a fire department then add the fee to the residents local fire tax...but at least there's no picking or wandering who's house to put out. What if a house that is on fire (that paid the taxes)....catches an exposure that did not....Are you just gonna let it burn. The policies of the local government needs changed.

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Permalink Reply by Herb Genelly III on October 10, 2010 at 2:53pm

Ben,

I'm really flattered that you spend so much of your time, responding to me and my opinions, that do nothing more than....well....they do nothing. But oddly enough, your responses validate my opinion(s), because you are threatened/aggravated/agitated/(fill in the blank) by them in some way.

I'm not sure what you are trying to gain out of this exchange, but whatever your end game is, go for it. It's Ben's one man campaign to convince Herbie he's wrong...wrong...wrong....but I digress.........here's something more to agitate you:

You posted this, and a portion of the comments have always been at the heart of my POV regarding the use of COMMON SENSE on this incident. And of course, my disclaimer: I'm not blaming the FF's, but the SFFD Chief's decision making process and the folks who refuse to implement the Fire Service Tax Measure the chiefs have put together, that would allow protection of the entire Olbion County. Ahemmm....To quote your excerpt from the interview of the Union City Fire Chief:

We would have put it out if for no other reason than that we had to come anyway and that was the damn fire that was endangering the neighbor who had the coverage.)

That seems like a good TACTICAL decision........you know Ben...............the fire ENDANGERING the paid subscriber, and a chief willing to say what soooo many others are afraid to say.

And if you look at the video, that Chief also says that he could have been fired, but it would have been his decision to put the fire out, but he would have, and he would have done some explaining. I bet you hate a chief like that Benjamin.

MY point has always been that a fire is a threat, and the public, educated on the subject or not, has an expectation of service, even if they DIDN'T pay. I know Ben, you have the facts...ad nauseam. But there have been folks who didn't pay a fee prior to this incident (because they thought, like the Cranic's, that the FD would come regardless), who have now paid, because they understand the consequences. Were they ALL cheapskates, or were some misinformed....what?With a uniform service and protection, there are no What ifs...LOL

Unless the department was set up for a CONTROL burn, with proper planning and resources (non of which Fulton can afford unfortunately)................just put it out, go home, and keep fighting for the same plan they have been fighting for the past 4 years.

BTW: Are you blasting the Union City Chief over that portion of his comments? No. Rock on Benny and the Jets!