Firefighters And Obion County Mayor Speak Over Fire Controversy

[struggle4progress]

Source: WREG (Channel 3 | Memphis)

Peronnel watched a house burn because homeowners had not paid fee
Natasha Chen
10:22 PM CDT, October 6, 2010

The chief of the Hornbeak Volunteer Fire Department spoke on behalf of a few cities within Obion County on Wednesday, stating frustration over the subscription fee system, under which one house to burn last week while fire personnel watched ...

The county mayor, Benny McGuire, reiterated that county governments are not obligated to provide fire protection service. Either a subscription fee is requested, or a mandatory fire tax can be imposed on county residents.

"The problem is, is some of the more remote areas of the county, is that - no matter what you've got, the house is still going to burn, because you're 10 or 11 miles away. And no matter what fire department responds, you will not get any service," McGuire said ...

<Hornbeak Fire Chief, Bob Reavis said> a subscription fee was not the answer ... "The people should understand that houses are going to burn. It's not what I want. It's not what they want. I don't really think it's what Benny wants. But we have to work with this. We're going to have to go back to the table and try to resolve this problem. This is not a solution. This is a patch on a squirting artery."

Read more: http://www.wreg.com/news/wreg-obion-fire,0,2139336.story

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The authority to form county fire districts is given by Tennessee Statutes Title 5 Chapter 17.101: that authority apparently lies with the county; see http://www.michie.com/tennessee/lpext.dll/tncode/32d8/3a74/3a7d?f=templates&fn=document-frame.htm&2.0#JD_5-17-101

[Name removed]

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[Cass]

2. What would have happened if a person was in the house? Would the FD still have stood by?

They should have put out the fire then billed the homeowner for the full cost of the service, and if he refused to pay then put a lien on the house. Standing by in a fire situation is just not an option imo.

The county ought to impose the mandatory fire tax and be done with it. Fire service is a necessary component to the public safety, just like police service.

[whyverne]

3. So he admits even if you pay they might not get there in time. n/t

[Warren Stupidity]

5. admits? In rural areas those are 'facts'.

If the nearest fire station is 10 or more miles away your house can burn to the ground before help arrives.

[Blue Diadem]

7. Rural areas and small towns usually have volunteer FD's.

Considering distance as a major factor as well as time involved with the firefighters driving from their home or in some instances, their work, to the station, getting on gear, leaving the station and then getting to the fire, it's quite possible for the home to be a total loss.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[wysimdnwyg]

8. You have truly lived up to your name with this post (n/t)

[Name removed]

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