A fire at a metro Atlanta couples home sparks controversy and now theyre angry the closest fire department was not called to the scene.
Anthony Allen and his wife live in Fulton County, but Fairburns fire station is closer. Even though the department helps out, Fairburn wasnt called to assist with the fire that destroyed their home.
The Allens home was just gutted by the fire even the couples 2 cars were totaled. The Allens and some firefighters believe the home would still be standing today if the City of Fairburn hadnt canceled its fire services contract with Fulton County.
Anthony Allen and his wife are crushed that their first home burned down whats even more upsetting is that they think firefighters could have saved it.
I strongly believe it couldve been saved, says Anthony.
The Allens say it took more than 20 minutes for the first fire engine to arrive and that the truck was from Fulton County instead of nearby Fairburn.
So why didnt a Fairburn truck show up?
I was told that right now theyre going through a rivalry as far as jurisdiction who was supposed to take care of who, says Anthony.
Fairburn used to contract with Fulton County for fire services but sources tell Channel 2 when Sandy Springs split from Fulton County, the county tried to increase Fairburns fire service fees. Fairburn then started its own fire department and when Fulton County firefighters began to apply, sources say relations grew tense.
So even though Fulton and Fairburn have a mutual agreement to help each other out, when the Allens Fulton County home caught fire, the much closer Fairburn fire crews didnt show up.
Fairburns Fire Chief says no one called them.
We would have of course sent an engine or two engines, says the Fairburn Fire Chief.
An assistant Fulton County Fire Chief told Channel 2 there is no tension between the two fire departments and says that both have assisted each other in the past.
He couldnt say why Fairburn wasnt called this time or how long it took crews to get to the scene because computer problems are preventing workers from reviewing 911 tapes of the incident.
They really should have been out here the City of Fairburn which is the closest one, says Tamera Wilson-Allen.
Investigators have not said what caused the fire although lightning is a strong suspect.
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