Posted by Kromey at 9:22pm Oct 6 '10(which I was already writing before you'd responded to my post here), this isn't a case of privatized or free enterprise emergency services. It's actually the exact opposite: It's your everyday, run-of-the-mill tax-funded emergency services.
But county residents outside the city don't tax-fund any fire department. The county and the state have failed to provide any such service. So the city fire departments have stepped in to fill that gap, but have to collect that subscription fee in exchange because you cannot have something for nothing.
I get what you're saying, and I certainly agree that what happened to this family is a tragedy, but they chose to live in an area with no fire protection, and then chose not to pay for fire protection when it was offered to them.
But county residents outside the city don't tax-fund any fire department. The county and the state have failed to provide any such service. So the city fire departments have stepped in to fill that gap, but have to collect that subscription fee in exchange because you cannot have something for nothing.
I get what you're saying, and I certainly agree that what happened to this family is a tragedy, but they chose to live in an area with no fire protection, and then chose not to pay for fire protection when it was offered to them.
added on 9:23pm Oct 6 '10:
And to be perfectly clear, it is not the city's responsibility to provide these services to non-city residents. But they offer it nonetheless -- and I for one commend them for taking that initiative and succeeding where government has quite clearly failed!
In addition to my post above - Kromey