BRUNSWICK, N.Y. (AP) - An upstate New York man who lost his home to a fire has something else to deal with: A $1,400 bill for the water firefighters used to battle the blaze.
Monday's fire destroyed Michael Pietro's home in the rural Rensselaer County town of Brunswick. Firefighters had to use water hauled in by tanker trucks to combat the flames, and the nearest hydrant was located in the neighboring town of Poestenkill.
After the fire, town officials in Poestenskill sent Pietro a water bill for $1,400. Pietro was shocked at the amount and fire chiefs in both towns are upset, too.
Poestenkill officials say they have to pass along the expense because the town has to buy its water from Brunswick and the nearby city of Troy.
