180 Feet Too Far

[Conveyor Belt]

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/255479.html

FAIRBANKS -- A Fairbanks couple lost a home to fire Thursday because it was just outside the fire service area and firefighters turned back from the scene.

Ace Callaway, the owner of the house, said officials told him his house on the Steese Highway was only 180 feet outside the area that the Steese Area Volunteer Fire Department covers, effectively putting it on the wrong side of the road. The nearest fire department is less than two miles away. Callaway says he's been paying for fire insurance for years and he assumed that the department covered a large radius.

"I always loved the fact that there are a lot of good people in Fairbanks, but this was wrong," he said. "We're all supposed to be neighbors. It's just very disheartening."

The Steese Fire Department responded to the call within two minutes of it coming in but turned back when they realized it was outside the service area. Callaway said he saw them turn off their lights and head back to the station.

"When I saw the truck pull up and turn off its lights, it kind of hurt," he said.

Wow. I'm glad this doesn't happen with Police and Ambulances.

[rileysmom]

That is just awful!!!! :smt009

[mybabysmomma]

What if someone had been trapped inside!? How cruel. I can think of lots of very not-so-nice names to call them, right now. I hope they sleep soundly at night.

[58ford]

That's f*cked-up right there.

[JMC]

I don't know how big Fairbanks, is there no city fire dept that should have responded?

That's crazy. What if it had been a carwreck and car on fire. "Sorry, wrong side of the road. Better luck next time."

:thumbs_do

[Blockhead]

I forget where, but I'd swear I read someone defending this in a hypothetical situation.

[Dixie Tree Slayer]

Thankfully all volunteer departments respond here in Carriere and Picayune... If not for them volunteering there would be people on the side of the road needing assistance and not getting it in a timely manner.... Sad to say often the volunteer firemen are first on the scene beating the Ambulances...


Those fairbanks idiots are not people in my book...

[firefly]

What if someone lost their life in a fire??? They won't respond to that?! That sucks eggs!:smt118

[wilebill]

Man, talk about not pi**ing on you if you were on fire...

[daisy]

I think it's sad but there is another side to it.

What if that was the only fire truck and crew available if a fire did respond in the area they are responsible and accountable to?

I have heard of 2 fires.

They ought to implement a policy that in cases like that one covers it and the 2nd arriving goes to the next one?

I know when we were white water rafting the Ocoee and each raft had to have a guide. our little guide, 100 lbs. soaking wet--mqaybe explained the rules of the river.

The rules were no matter when someone fell out of a boat, the nearest got them back in and took them to safety. Also all along the riskier spots, all the guides played lookout for each other. Safety and the welfare of all passengers and guides was put before companies.

Of course the company is out to make a profit but those rules help everybody 'cause they work for everyone.

[Maggie-Doodle]

I see a BIG lawsuit coming down the pike! :smt103 Thank God our f.d.'s try to back each other up. IMO, that dept. should be disbanned. You would think they would have started trying to put the fire out and had someone call the dept. that the people actually came under.

[Dixie Tree Slayer]

I do not know how they could have turned away and been able to sleep??? Ask forgiveness if it got me in trouble...

[Maggie-Doodle]

I do not know how they could have turned away and been able to sleep??? Ask forgiveness if it got me in trouble...

Yeah, sometimes you have to do the RIGHT thing and worry about ass chewings at a later date!