By Angela Hatton
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkms/local-wkms-928264.mp3
Union City, TN – According to the latest statistics from the U. S. Census Bureau, around 32,500 people live in Obion County, TN. Well over a third of residents live outside city limits. You may have heard about a recent house fire incident near the city of South Fulton. Firefighters there failed to respond to a house fire in the county, because the family had not paid the 75 dollar annual subscription fee. The story generated national and even international media coverage, and South Fulton and Obion County have been bombarded with attention, and criticism over their subscription fire service system. Another county fire chief, Union City's Kelly Edmison has stepped forward to, as he says, clear up some of the confusion. Edmison's department employs the same system as that of South Fulton. Edmison spoke with Angela Hatton about fire protection and response in Obion County.
The next Obion County Commissioners meeting is October 18. Commissioners plan to discuss a new county-wide subscription service to replace the current city-based system.