SAMBURG, Tenn. — No more firefighters will watch homes burn if one city approves a measure involving the pay for spray controversy.
The issue is simple: pay a little up front or roll the dice and pay a lot later. Either way, people living in the county near one city will likely never be denied fire protection again.
The issue involves people living in Obion County, Tennessee, near Samburg. Even if they don't pay a fire fee, crews will respond so people don't watch their home burn but they'll pay a hefty price tag later.
Obion County was overseeing a program in which people living outside fire districts could opt in or out of protection from the closest city fire department for $75 a year.
However, no pay meant no spray when lives weren't at risk. Stories of firefighters watching homes burn brought international media attention.
Samburg's mayor and board of aldermen approved the fire chief's plan to address this issue this week. It is a membership program offering rural fire protection in the Samburg area.
The fee is $75 a year.
The fire chief said there are roughly 680 potential customers in Samburg's rural fire district.
Final approval of the measure will happen at the board's meeting July 9.
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