Firefighters refuse to save burning house
SOUTH FULTON, TN (WPSD/CNN) - A Tennessee family had to watch their house burn to the ground as firefighters stood by and refused to put out the flames because the family didn't pay the annual subscription fee for fire service.
When Vicky Bell called 911, firefighters were dispatched, but once at the scene they only watched.
"You could look out my mom's home and see the trucks sitting at a distance," Bell said.
For Bell, that sight was almost as disturbing as the fire itself.
"We just wished we could've gotten more out," she said.
It's a controversial policy that the area has dealt with before. People in the city of South Fulton have fire protection, but those in the county do not unless they pay a $75 annual fee.
The city makes no exceptions.
"There's no way to go to every fire and be able to keep up the manpower, the equipment, and just the funding for the fire department," said South Fulton Mayor David Crocker.
Crocker said that by now, everyone should know about the city's fire policy.
"After the last situation, I would hope that everybody would be well aware of the rural fire fees, this time," he said.
Bell and her boyfriend said they were aware of the policy, but thought a fire would never happen to them.
The city has received a lot of heat over its year-old policy, but has refused to change it.
When Vicky Bell called 911, firefighters were dispatched, but once at the scene they only watched.
"You could look out my mom's home and see the trucks sitting at a distance," Bell said.
For Bell, that sight was almost as disturbing as the fire itself.
"We just wished we could've gotten more out," she said.
It's a controversial policy that the area has dealt with before. People in the city of South Fulton have fire protection, but those in the county do not unless they pay a $75 annual fee.
The city makes no exceptions.
"There's no way to go to every fire and be able to keep up the manpower, the equipment, and just the funding for the fire department," said South Fulton Mayor David Crocker.
Crocker said that by now, everyone should know about the city's fire policy.
"After the last situation, I would hope that everybody would be well aware of the rural fire fees, this time," he said.
Bell and her boyfriend said they were aware of the policy, but thought a fire would never happen to them.
The city has received a lot of heat over its year-old policy, but has refused to change it.
