Firemen Watch House Burn Down

My department also does an ambulance service, I know exactly what you're talking about with the hospital costs. Our return rate is only like 40%, meaning only 40% of the people that want a ride to the hospital pay their bill, which is why i'ts $600 base + $9 / mile.

My department also does an ambulance service, I know exactly what you're talking about with the hospital costs. Our return rate is only like 40%, meaning only 40% of the people that want a ride to the hospital pay their bill, which is why i'ts $600 base + $9 / mile.

Which is why I know the very important words "I have the right to refuse medical treatment"

If you live somewhere where Fire supression / EMS response / Vehicle accident and general rescue are free services, you either live in an area with heavy volunteer activity that recieve money from selling krispy kreme doughnuts, or stand at 4-way's with a jar asking for money, or you are sadly mistaken. Today, the average "New" Fire Engine costs about $300,000. I, however work on an aerial apparatus that is designed for commercial suppression, high angle rescues, and because of this the truck was $700,000 then comes the cost of getting neccesary gear on the truck. You've got to look at hose, which depending on size is different pice per foot. Usually a residential attack line which is 1 3/4" in diameter comes in 50' sections. Each section costs about $100. If you live in a suburban setting where the house has like a 30' driveway you still need at least 150' of hose to go from the truck and wind through the house as needed, not to mention a secondary line for backup, which is state mandated where I live. You also have the nozzles, which are several hundred dollars. Then you have a set of turnout gear for each firefighter that costs about $2000, with an average crew of 3 men per truck. You still need supply hose to go from a hydrant to the engine. Most trucks carry 1000' of 5". If you're in a rural setting, like these folks, and there are no hydrants, you need a tanker truck to shuttle water back and forth from a water source to the fire scene. There's still the cost of equipment to ventilate as needed, fans, chainsaws, pike poles, haligan tools. You need rescue equipment like the jaws of life, shears, rams, hydraulic power unit. There's another 30 grand. You still need a station, electric service, Water service, station supplies, equipment maintenance costs such as oil changes, tires, repairs on things that break, insurance. The list of costs of a basic fire department go on and on. Expecting to get it as a courtesy is beyond a joke.

haha, reminds me of something I saw the other day. Some dude was lying in the middle of the double yellow lines of the road. No car around, so I know it wasn't an accident. I stop and start to get out but see a police car pull up. Policeman gets out and starts yelling at the dude to get up. He hops right up, and an ambulance shows up in less than a minute and takes him to the hospital. I'm pretty damn certain that dude won't be paying a dime for 1. the ambulance ride and 2. whatever medical treatment he receieved.

If you live somewhere where Fire supression / EMS response / Vehicle accident and general rescue are free services, you either live in an area with heavy volunteer activity that recieve money from selling krispy kreme doughnuts, or stand at 4-way's with a jar asking for money, or you are sadly mistaken.

Today, the average "New" Fire Engine costs about $300,000. I, however work on an aerial apparatus that is designed for commercial suppression, high angle rescues, and because of this the truck was $700,000 then comes the cost of getting neccesary gear on the truck. You've got to look at hose, which depending on size is different pice per foot. Usually a residential attack line which is 1 3/4" in diameter comes in 50' sections. Each section costs about $100. If you live in a suburban setting where the house has like a 30' driveway you still need at least 150' of hose to go from the truck and wind through the house as needed, not to mention a secondary line for backup, which is state mandated where I live. You also have the nozzles, which are several hundred dollars. Then you have a set of turnout gear for each firefighter that costs about $2000, with an average crew of 3 men per truck. You still need supply hose to go from a hydrant to the engine. Most trucks carry 1000' of 5". If you're in a rural setting, like these folks, and there are no hydrants, you need a tanker truck to shuttle water back and forth from a water source to the fire scene. There's still the cost of equipment to ventilate as needed, fans, chainsaws, pike poles, haligan tools. You need rescue equipment like the jaws of life, shears, rams, hydraulic power unit. There's another 30 grand. You still need a station, electric service, Water service, station supplies, equipment maintenance costs such as oil changes, tires, repairs on things that break, insurance.

The list of costs of a basic fire department go on and on. Expecting to get it as a courtesy is beyond a joke.

In the UK we pay taxes for services like that, its all included, police, fire, ambulance. You cant put a value on human life just because the local mayor wants to make a few extra dollars on the side.

On topic of the whole fire thing: No loss of life so I don't really see a problem in it.

You trying to say dogs and cats don't count as "life"?

I meant to specify human life, but I don't think it's really necessary. You know what I mean anyway you silly goose. Not like government figures deem animal life=human life anyway though.

Had the pets payed their fee, they would have been rescued.

Dogs and cats rarely foresee the longterm consequences of their poor decisions. It's a plague, but PeTA has come up with a solution. Ask your local Vinvv for more details.