Motorcycle Owners Sue Church For Lack of Water for Firefighting

Posted by: Curt Varone August 1, 2012 5 Comments

Let me read that title again… motorcycle owners sue church for lack of water for firefighting. Yup. That’s it.

A group of eleven motorcycle owners in Madison County, Illinois have filed suit against Peace Free Will Baptist Church for negligence following a 2011 fire at Joe’s Hawg Doc that destroyed their bikes.

The plaintiffs allege that when the fire started the Long Lake Volunteer Fire Department responded and connected to a fire hydrant on the church’s property. Unfortunately, the water main feeding the hydrant was too small resulting in an inadequate supply of water. They allege the value of the lost motorcycles was $282,000.

From news reports it does not appear the fire department was named as a co-defendant.

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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