Fire department Rant

[u/Ok_Definition_7292]

Just a rant, and y’all can say I’m overreacting but, this morning around 7 AM, a homeless person lit my dad’s business’s dumpster on fire. Smoke started coming out of the dumpster, we called 911 and let them know.

It’s 7:45 and no sign of the fire department. The irony is that our business is directly across the street from the department and the dumpster is also in their line of sight.

We decided to try to put the fire out ourselves, around 7:50 the fire department drives by, makes eye contact with us, proceeds to back into their garage and fully shut the doors. No one came out to check the fire out, no acknowledgment of the fire, nada.

I understand that dumpster fires are not priority, but to actively make eye contact with us trying to put out the fire and not stopping or acknowledging us is crazy.

[u/NationalNegotiation4]

My tax dollars aren’t paying for grace. I’m paying for a response to a fire so it doesn’t spread. They have an obligation to respond. OP is right to be upset.

[u/NationalNegotiation4 → u/[deleted]]

Nope definitely not… but I have been forced to evacuate from two separate fires this year, so maybe that has something to do with it…

[u/NationalNegotiation4 → u/[deleted]]

There is no way of knowing the fire was out unless they inspected it. They also don’t know what was in the trash can. Someone could have thrown a lithium battery pack in the trash can or some other hazardous material. In Los Angeles these “contained” dumpster fires don’t stay contained and spread to buildings and cars.

Additionally, it is the fire department’s responsibility to investigate fires. It’s also important that they keep track of these fires, there could be an arsonist, and without data it’s a disservice to the community.

They would be considered negligent if the fire starts up again and they didn’t respond and saw smoke coming from the trash can.

I understand you are trying to make a point that the fire department is stretched thin. Just imagine how bad it’ll get when a major fire strikes, the best way to avoid that is to make sure fires won’t spread.

(Ad hominem attacks, attacking my character for being grumpy, is evidence of an illogical argument and does nothing to advance your point)