On September 29, a home in Tennessee was allowed to burn to the ground as firefighters watched. Gene Cranick of Obion County called 911, but the fire department from the nearby city of South Fulton would not respond. The homeowner had not paid a $75 fee for firefighting services. Obrion County does not have county-wide firefighting services, but South Fulton offers fire coverage to rural residents who pay the fee. Since Cranick neglected to pay the fee, his home burned to the ground. He even pleaded to pay on the spot, but his offers were denied.

Turns out that many rural areas have set ups similar to this. The rural counties do not have firefighting services so they rely on the services of neighboring cities. This reliability comes at a cost. And the cost becomes even greater if the fee is not paid and a homeowner loses a home. What if a person is inside, would there be this same reaction? This is inhumane and an utter disgrace. We must take action now!

Photo credit: Sebastian Ritter