Homeowner left with $1,400 water bill after fire destroys home


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EAGLE MILLS, N.Y. - An Eagle Mills couple that lost their home to a fire earlier this week, now has to pay $1,400 for the water used to combat the flames.

The massive fire started around 1 p.m. on Monday, November 26, at 375 Garfield Road and took dozens of volunteer fire fighters nearly nine hours to put out.

Fire investigators say the first unit arrived within one minute of receiving the call, but despite the quick response, the home was fully engulfed and there was not much they could do.

On Monday, homeowner Mike Pretio told NEWS10 he was grateful for the volunteer fire fighters who responded. He said he tried to put out the flames himself but just didn't have enough water, and called for help.

The reason he has to foot the $1,400 bill: "It was an out-of-district water use," Poestenkill Supervisor Dominic Jocangelo tells NEWS10. He explains the town of Poestenkill established a water district restriction two years ago, and under the new rules residents outside the town have to pay for water use. Jocangelo says it is the first time they've charged.

He says he sent the bill to the homeowner and has not heard back, and that he's flexible about the amount, but that it's unfair to have taxpayers in Poestenkill foot the bill.

Thomas Martin, Fire Chief of Eagle Mills, calls the bill outrageous, saying it was easier for his crew to use Poestenkill's water, given the location of the house. He's never heard of any municipality charging and he thinks it's wrong.

Martin says in the town of Brunswick, where they are located, water is always free to use, no matter where they have take it. Martin says this is the first time he's ever heard of a bill such as this happening.

Martin is concerned this could become an ongoing issue. "I really hope the town board in Poestenkill can review this situation and take it into consideration to change their practice," he said.

Eagle Mills will be hosting a pancake breakfast on December 2nd at 8 a.m. to raise money, all of which will go to the water bill.

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If it was fully engulfed when the first unit arrived, there's little point in trying to put it out. All personal belongings are either burned, melted or severely smoke damaged. Structurally, dang near every plank would need to be replaced or sprayed. Probably would be cheaper to rebuild from scratch.

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Charging homeowners for the water used to put out fires? Only in the Capitalist States Of America?.

Just wait till he gets the bill for the fire fighters time, wear and tear on the fire engine, gas money to go to his address...

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Charging homeowners for the water used to put out fires? Only in the Capitalist States Of America?.

Depends on whose fault it was for there being a fire in the first place.

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Depends on whose fault it was for there being a fire in the first place.

No, it doesn't. If there was any foul play then that is a criminal matter, not a financial one.

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Well, at least firefighters actually put every effort to put the fire out, so as to not endanger whatever surroudings are there (wind can bring burning cinders very far) as opposed to actually showing up from miles away, but might as well with chow and barbecue sauce bottles, ready to have an open-air picnic...

https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1043593-home-burns-while-firefighters-watch-again/

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