There was actually a story about someone who lived in some town where you had to pay for fire department service.
He thought it was ridiculous, and refused to pay. He "forgot" to pay. Well his house caught on fire later, the fire department refused to show up....they were eventually talked into showing up because the neighbor was scared for his own house (he paid the fee).
They watched the house burn down, and made sure the other house didn't catch.
The owner was begging with them to put it out, offering them cash and pay the fee, they still refused.....
Kinda off topic....sorry.
Edit: and to provide a source as I always try to encourage:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39516346/ns/us_news-life/
seems I embellished a little, will cross out the errors.