Unforgivable

This family lost everything, including 3 dogs and a cat, because they didn't pay a nearby city $75 to be included in the list of rural residents who could expect firefighting efforts. Instead, the firefighters came and doused a neighbour who had paid's field to make sure the fire didn't spread, but otherwise watched the family's home burn to the ground. What if a child or other person had been inside? Would they have lifted a finger then?

No pay, no spray: Firefighters let home burn

The fire department's decision to let the home burn was "incredibly irresponsible," said the president of an association representing firefighters.

"Professional, career firefighters shouldn’t be forced to check a list before running out the door to see which homeowners have paid up," Harold Schatisberger, International Association of Fire Fighters president, said in a statement. "They get in their trucks and go."

My best friend, who was also outraged by this story, described the city's practice as a protection racket. Given that the county doesn't have a fire service and the city (who's mayor was completely unapologetic) is the only game in town, I have to agree. The homeowner had begged the firefighters to intervene and offered to pay the fee, or more.

South Fulton's mayor said that the fire department can't let homeowners pay the fee on the spot, because the only people who would pay would be those whose homes are on fire.

Um...really, do you believe that? That's a stupid assertion. I think I'd be selling my land, moving to a area with a sane government, and paying my taxes elsewhere.