Reply #80: From what I understood about the story

[xmas74]

the reason why the family involved didn't pay for the fire protection was because they could not afford it. Before that time it had been via a volunteer basis-families volunteered to serve and they received a free service.

I learned quite a bit at dispatch trainings and seminars years ago. Some of the fire protection areas will charge a family several thousands' of dollars for one years' worth of service. We also learned that this was often done in developing areas as a way to rid the area of the "riff raff".

It's just wrong. I never understood what kind of people would let a fire burn. Must be the kind who have no respect for what a fire can do and the speed in which a fire can spread at times.