Fire in home....No firemen????

Question

I live on the border of two towns (the town line actually runs right through the middle of my home). I pay 50% of my taxes to one town..and 50% to the other. Last week we had a fire in the kitchen. Called 911...they connected me with town 1. Town 1 claims not their juristiction...told me to call town 2. Called town 2...they told me not their juristiction as well...and to call town 1.

All of this went on for about 30 minutes until I finally got one of the towns to show up...meanwhile my kitchen is burning down. Lost most of my kitchen and am considering suiing or at least letting my homeowners insurance know of the events. Any opinions?

I could not get near the kitchen because the heat and smoke were too intense. The fire extingisher was in the kitchen and would of done little good anyhow considering the fire had breached the upper level as well through the ceiling and in the walls.

I couldn't stay in the house because of the smoke...had to call 911 from my cell phone outside.

EM...then why in God's name do I pay taxes to both towns. Moving is not an option..this house has been in my family for over 130 years and I don't plan on giving it up because these two towns don't want to do what my tax money pays them to do. BTW....my yearly taxes are over $10,000.00 (Long Island). This is just not acceptable.

Answer 1

I live in an area where this is an issue w. the police.

Sue both. Yes you have it right..... what if it spread either way? Attorney first because imagine if the house was burning to the ground? Write, talk to any person, politician and whatnot that you can. Log everything. Someone will tackle your cause.

It all comes down to money. Money spent on a jurisdiction. Money that they should spend on tying this together. What happens? Your house is burning and your child is missing? Who do you call?

You simply must call your insurance company. If you are later worried about rates.... it is OK as you don't have to accept the money. Call them now and today. If you don't have a damage report you can't really sue anyone. You need to take pictures NOW as well. No call to insurance equals no case.

Answer 2

Well you most certainly have an argument for something. The specifics of what they are you'd have to contact a lawyer about. The reason the fire department is there is to keep your house from burning down. There really should not have been a question of if half your house is in township 1 or township 2.

Honestly though, you really should have had a fire extinguisher in your house and attempted to put the fire out yourself, unless it was a huge blaze.

Answer 3

I'd start by contacting the county zoning office and find out where the line is. It doesn't seem right to have it run through the middle of the house. If it does in fact cut through your house, call one or other of the towns and get your property annexed so the line will move.
It sounds like it was a smallish fire that got out of hand, since you had time to use your own phone. Buy a fire extinguisher and learn how to use it. CYA (cover your @$$) Good luck.

Answer 4

Which town does your kitchen run through? Have you ever considered it from the other angle? Sometimes, people sue fire depts because of extra damage. It isn't worth it for them to fight a fire that is out of their jurisdiction when so many people are sue-happy.

Bottom line is buy a new home if you don't want this problem. Everyone is following their rules.

Answer 5

sue both cities, set your claim at 1 billion per city

the judge will question the amount explain, you can always settle for less, but it is hard to up your claim since it may take 20 years to settle and cost you a lot of money

next, use your tax statement as proof that you are in both areas.

when you go to court, keep it simple, I pay taxes, I had an emergency that endangered both cities as fire spreads, and no one responded in a timely manner,

im out money, i'm out of my house for repairs,

hammer it home.

Answer 6

That makes no sense what so ever. One why did you let the fire burn? Where in the kitchen did the fire burn that you couldn't put it out with a fire extinguisher. It is your loss on this one. You won't win in court over any of this.

Answer 7

looks like youll be movin off the fence now......if not, seems like a good time to force the issue, and see what you can do to get one, if not both, to pay for the damage, since you pay taxes to both.........some body has to step up to the plate in an emergency..........