[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

I wonder if those residents pay property tax or other city taxes.

Also I wonder if they guy was willing to pay the firemen, why not just pay the 75$ fee?

According to the New York Times, he had paid the bill in years past, but had failed to pay it this year.

Was it made clear to the homeowners the consequences?

Why not just save the house and send the man a bill?

Good questions, but what bothers me is that anyone would feel the need to check a payment record before sending help in an emergency situation. Emergencies require immediate attention, and presumably there would not be (and should not be) time to assess the finances first.

Also can't blame the FD really, you have to blame those that made this law

I blame the FD! They are just as guilty as their superiors. I don't know a single MAN among my friends and family who would stand and watch someone's house burn because of an unpaid bill, even if a superior ordered them to stand by and do nothing. (Assuming they had the power to actually do something about it.) I believe I read in one report that neighbors tried to help but their hoses wouldn't reach or weren't powerful enough.

There are times when you should disobey orders; IMO, this is one of them. It reflects badly on the character of every man involved that they followed the mayor's wishes.

What if the governor of New Orleans had refused to offer emergency assistance during Hurricane Katrina to anyone who was behind on their taxes?