I think this pretty much sums it up. Pay the fee or suffer the consequences. It's a pretty simple concept.
The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.
Why did he call that particular Fire Department? Why not call every Fire Department he could think of? I mean if you're going to mooch then you might as well go big. Then he could blame like 5 or 6 Fire Departments for not responding.