My 2 Cents: Tennessee Firefighters Let Home Burn

By Kelly Ogle, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- An interesting decision by firefighters in Tennessee.

A mobile home outside South Fulton, Tennessee catches fire. Firefighters rushed to the scene, then step back and let the home burn to the ground. The homeowner begged them to put the fire out, but they refused and instead they protected a nearby home.

You see, South Fulton offers fire protection to folks living outside the city limits, for a $75 a year subscription fee.

The homeowner didn't pay the fee, so they let it burn. Sounds outrageous, but was it? What would you have done if you'd been the fire chief on the scene? If you put the fire out why would anyone pay the rural fire fee next year? Maybe, you could put the fire out, but then charge them $2,000 or $3,000 to cover the costs.

That's an idea, but what if another home catches fire on the other side of town?

That homeowner has paid the annual fire protection fee, but you can't get to his house because you're tied up helping the homeowner who didn't bother to pay but expects help anyway.

Now you make the call, would you put out the fire or let it burn? 

Leave Kelly Your 2 Cents, tell us where you're from, and he could read your comments on air.