Firefighters let home burn for homeowner who didn’t pay fee

I heard about the following article this morning on the Glenn Beck program.
Gene Cranick’s home was allowed to burn to the ground by firefighters on September 29 in Obion County, Tennessee, because he had not paid a $75 fee to the South Fulton City Fire Department.

MSNBC reports that the fire started when Cranick’s grandson was burning trash on the family’s property. In the country, outside city limits, this is a common practice. There is a $75 fee for residents living outside the city to pay for the fire department’s services.

Cranick said that he forgot to pay the fee, and since the county does not offer fire service, South Fulton’ fire department was the only option. Once the fire occurred Cranick offered to pay the fee on the spot, but was told this was not allowed.

South Fulton Mayor David Crocker said “Anybody that’s not inside the city limits of South Fulton, it’s a service we offer. Either they accept it or they don’t.”

Now some would say this is horrible, how can they stand by and let someone's house burn down? How can they let it burn down after they offered to pay whatever? Well why don't these same people get mad when the insurance company won't let you buy insurance after your house burns down?

Cranick says he forgot to pay the fee maybe he did, but we don't accept that excuse with homework, the bank isn't going to accept that excuse on your mortgage, the IRS certainly isn't going to accept that excuse.

In that area if you want fire coverage you have to pay for it. Why should they expect coverage for free? Oh that right our government has been brain washing us since FDR to expect the government to give us all we need for free.

The bottom line is this someone has to pay, nothing in life is free.