It is my opinion that due to increased costs of operations a fire department should be allowed to bill for certain calls. For example, if they are responding to calls for highway accidents I feel they should be allowed to bill insurance companies. Uninsured motorists should be billed. Allow a "fine" for repeated call-outs for false alarms per year to businesses. Taxes and donations just don't cut it anymore, your fire men and women deserve your support.

I agree with "oldencrabby", let them charge for services. Let the one that uses pay instead of all taxpayers. Most firefighters are volunteer so I think they should charge for services to help buy fuel and needed equipment. Most fire departments are non-profit so any insurance money they receive helps them provide better services which helps the whole community.

The problem is that the local department wants to bill the locals who already pay for their services. Think about folks who've lived here and paid the fire fees for 20 or more years - should they have to pay AGAIN for services they've already bought? Is it even legal for them to double bill consumers in this manner? I also support my local fire department at every "tag day", pancake breakfast, dinner and the annual fourth of July fire department event (I say fire dept. event because all the games, entertainment, even the "pageant" flame queen contest is all for firemen and their families-- the rest of us are just pay to watch them have fun -- My feeling is that if this double-billing system goes in to effect, I won't be donating to the other fundraisers for the department.

they can not make you pay the bill and they will lose more money in the long run for they cant get grants unless someone is lieing

In my area we don't pay a direct fee to the fire department, our departments receive a portion of our municipal/county taxes. All other funds supporting the department comes from fund raisers and grants. Grants must be used for specific purposes, ie. new/used trucks, buildings, etc. They cannot be used for general upkeep of the trucks,fuel,building,etc. The volunteer departments are not looking to become rich, they need the funds to survive. I don't see their billing for services as double paying them. I have insurance as required by law and I don't have a problem with them billing. I did a quick search and I believe Preston Co., WV. has an ordinance that explains the billing procedure here: http://www.prestoncountywv.org/firedeptcharge...

Like I said - I have always supported my local fire dept so that they had the funds to run the station - but now they won't need my donations once they become a "bill for services" company - they will have all their needs met when they charge $500 everytime they respond to an accident. I'll give my money to other local organizations that don't get the support of taxpayer money and insurance companies.