QUESTION
On Feb. 28, our house burned down because the fire department ran out f water and the fire hydrant was broken
Asked on Mar 15th, 2022 on Litigation - California
More details to this question:
On Feb. 28, a house in Pine Flat caught on fire. The family called 911 (a very frustrating experience apparently) and the fire department just a couple miles away could not find the place.
When they finally arrived, they joined the husband’s efforts trying to put the fire out. At that point, it was contained to the just carport area.
Within a couple minutes, the firefighters ran out of water. They had no idea where the hydrants were located and when told their whereabouts, they said the nearest hydrant didn’t work. At that point, they said there was nothing they could do despite the fact there was a 6,000 gallon water tank on the property that was full.
With backup an hour away, they just sat there and watched the home burn. To them it was just a house, not someone’s home.
The wife was yelled at by firefighters for going back and forth getting the family’s pets out.
It’s heartbreaking. One of their cats was seriously burned, four chickens were roasted.
1 ANSWER
1 Award
Was the fire dept able to access the 6000 gallon water tank and transfer the water from it to the home, i.e. to hook up their hoses? Was there another fire hydrant close enough for them to hook up to or fill the tank on their truck? It's difficult to sue a public agency for negligence in failing to protect one's assets unless there is clear evidence of gross negligence or a promise to do something they did not do.
Answered on Mar 16th, 2022 at 9:40 AM
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