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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think my neighbour should be invoiced by the fire service for all the resources he used

67 replies

quittinaeete · 01/03/2019 10:24

Neighbor last week had a chimney fire and the fire service were out for 3-4 hours putting it out and risking themselves on his roof (with ladders). He constantly has fires going for 10 months of the year.

Overheard him joking that it was probably because he hadn't had it swept in years and they saved him a job as they gave it a good sweep after putting it out.

I have mine swept every year even though I don't use the wood burner that often.

This guy was very negligent and from the sounds of it caused the fire himself. Why shouldn't he be invoiced for this?

OP posts:

NannyRed · 01/03/2019 10:31

That would be a dangerous president to start. What about when someone has a fire but tries to extinguish it themself because they fear being charged and end up burning their house down and the neighbours either side?

The fire service, like the nhs is free at point of use, starting charging would be a step backwards.

I can’t believe you’d rather see your neighbours house be completely destroyed rather than him call the fire brigade out to do their job because you think it’s his fault. The careless cook setting a tea towel alight, the smoker who falls asleep with a fag on, children playing with matches because mum left them out, should they also be charged?

TinkleWinkle13 · 01/03/2019 10:34

Of course he shouldn’t be charged but if you think that is the worst the fire brigade deal with - you have no idea! You would be surprised how many cock rings fireman cut off each year - they are the only people with machinery who can cut that kind of metal. They also retrieve animals off spikes on monuments and many other tasks that people may be surprised about.

mindutopia · 01/03/2019 10:36

Surely, 90% of all fires are caused by negligence. Where do you draw the line? To be fair, having to sort your house out and make repairs after it’s caught on fire sounds more of a hassle than just having it swept regularly.

But definitely a slippery slope, in parts of the US, fire services are paid for and if you haven’t paid your bill, they won’t respond to your address. They leave your house to burn down, obviously endangering other people and their homes. Privatisation has some nasty consequences.

HomeTheatreSystem · 01/03/2019 10:37

He will be laughing the other side of his face when and if he has to make an insurance claim for damage relating to his fire and he cannot produce a certificate to prove it was professionally cleaned within the previous 12 months...

M4J4 · 01/03/2019 10:38

Meh. This is what we pay our taxes for.

Thankfully the fire didn't kill him.

*Disclaimer: I don't have a fireplace.

FaithInfinity · 01/03/2019 10:40

Well it’s a service that we pay for through taxes surely? Where do you draw the line? We had a fire because I left something that turned out to be faulty plugged in and it caught fire. Should I have been charged?

But yes I suspect his insurance might not cover him if he’s been using his fire without getting the chimneys checked.

Bananalanacake · 01/03/2019 10:43

Tinkle. I thought you'd made a hilarious typo and meant cook rings, as in kitchen fires which must be pretty common. But you really do mean cock rings

teyem · 01/03/2019 10:48

Surely the only fires that do not start as a result of some negligence at some point are those started by arsonists?

You would be surprised how many cock rings fireman cut off each year
That's grim and hilarious in equal measure

ILoveMaxiBondi · 01/03/2019 10:49

You could apply the same logic to anyone who causes their own injury or illness.

Smoker who gets lung cancer?

Someone who falls and breaks a leg when they’re drunk?

Someone who crashes their car due to speeding?

Someone who fallen off their ladder due to not stabilising it?

Are you wanting to charge them all for their NHS treatments?

Meandmetoo · 01/03/2019 10:54

Because, op, people might be reluctant to phone the fire service in future for fear of being invoiced. Isn't that obvious?

Backwoodsgirl · 01/03/2019 10:59

My towns fire department will bill for a handful of things such as arson,

DH sweeps our chimney every month during heating season.

Jux · 01/03/2019 11:05

We had what looked - initially - like an electrical fire inside the wall. The fire service were fantastic and zeven managed to remain civil when as fod tobe something careless and harmless. They came round the next day and installed fire alarms on 4 floors.

We did get a bill a day or two later for the unnecessary call out, but all things considered it was cheap.

I hope your neighbour gets a bill but pehaps not all Councils operate the same way.

FixTheBone · 01/03/2019 11:15

@Ilovemaxibondi

you'd be surprised at what the highest risk injuries are. If you wanted to save the NHS a fortune on treating injuries - ban trampolines and stop people from playing recreational football and rugby.

Not that I'd seriously suggest that of course, but it is a genuinely interesting debate about where you draw the line and the basis of the counterargument for charging people for "wasteful" ED attendances, missed appointments etc

Kennehora · 01/03/2019 11:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 01/03/2019 11:20

Exactly fix. Hate trampolines for exactly this reason. Refused to ever buy one for DCs.

StinkyCandle · 01/03/2019 11:33

that

Just think that the fire service also prevented the fire to spread to the entire neighbourhood who had paid for their regular sweep and maintenance.

It's in nobody's interest to have a private fire service. The NHS on the other hand

MereDintofPandiculation · 01/03/2019 11:35

Overheard him joking that it was probably because he hadn't had it swept in years and they saved him a job as they gave it a good sweep after putting it out. Have you never heard people making jokes about a bad situation as a way of coping with it? I think you've taken this remark too seriously.

JRMisOdious · 01/03/2019 11:38

There are lots of circumstances where people should be charged for using the emergency services, too many to list and usually involving idiots undertaking activities they know nothing about. Your neighbour’s attitude towards his responsibilities is bloody awful but I don’t think he could be charged.

LlandewiBrefi · 01/03/2019 11:43

That would be a dangerous president to start.

Do you mean precedent or Donald Trump?

TinkleWinkle13 · 01/03/2019 13:18

Kennehora - My other half is a fireman. Some of their shouts are very surprising !

Stressedout10 · 01/03/2019 13:23

In our area if your chimney catches fire and you haven't had it swept in 12 months then you get changed per engine

Kennehora · 01/03/2019 13:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JRMisOdious · 01/03/2019 13:38

Donald Trump should most certainly be charged with something.

Original poster

quittinaeete · 01/03/2019 13:39

Lol over a dozen posts saying I'm being unreasonable then one person says they do this in their area.

Thanks @Stressedout10 that's just what I'm suggesting here.

Not having your chimney swept for 3 years isn't an accident, it's literally playing with fire. No one is suggesting a private fire service, just charging those that are grossly negligent.

OP posts:

Original poster

quittinaeete · 01/03/2019 13:41

I can’t believe you’d rather see your neighbours house be completely destroyed rather than him call the fire brigade out to do their job because you think it’s his fault.

That is not what I said at all, talk about making something up!

OP posts:

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