Fire department charging for services

First come the firefighters, then come the bills.

After responding to a fire or medical emergency, the Springfield Fire Department is sometimes sending out bills seeking reimbursement for services rendered.

The policy, which has been in place less than a year, has raised some eyebrows. After all, aren't these services already paid for by city taxpayers?

Fire Chief Nick Zummo said the city is imposing the fees for two reasons: funding the department and deterring private businesses, such as nursing homes, from using firefighters to do jobs better performed by their own staff.

But Zummo emphasizes that the bills are going to insurance companies and businesses – not individual city residents.

"We've had some billing issues where some residents received bills in error that should have gon