I mean, on one level it is; as I've noted several times they could've put it out, assessed a much higher than normal fee (since the annual fee is an actuarial number and represents a partial share of costs, whereas in this case I'd say the homeowner as a non-subsriber to the service is liable for the full costs of the one incident, which could likely run thousands) and put a lien on his house if he refused to pay.

HOWEVER, since, apparently, they'd already put out a fire there at no charge before and he still "forgot" to pay the fee, since it wasn't the first time he had such a "mental lapse" (despite the fact they'd already put out a fire despite his non-payment) and since the county residents outside the city had already voted to create a volunteer department but NOT to provide it engines or a firehouse it really does seem to me that they, and this guy in particular, had been taking advantage of the Fulton departments ethics and humanity for some time. I don't blame them for getting sick of it since it was costing them money and putting their lives at risk. At some point you have to draw the line with people like that or they'll just keep walking on you until they grind you into the turf.