Rural / Metro Fire. When we stayed in Yuma Foothills at Fortuna De Oro RV park last winter we received a brochure from F/M.
After some research and contacting them we found some things that most nobody we RV with knew.
In many areas in AZ and another few states F/M is now the fire and ambulance service that handles these unincorporated areas that no governmental provision for this is available. You call 911 and they arrive just like any normal fire or ambulance service. What you do not understand is that they are far from your normal understanding of this type service. You have to pay to be a member of F/M.
Their website
www.ruralmetrofire.com shows where they are located. Their fine print contract is a lawyers field day noting that they guarantee nothing as to when or how they respond but whatever they do is at your expense.
In talking with their representative they indicated that rates for medical calls start at $600.00 minimum, fire calls are $1500.00 minimum. Charges then escalate as to what they determine they decide is needed. Most fire calls will attain a $25,000.00 invoice if there is an actual fire to suppress. Remember, they decide what, whom and when they do any medical or fire related work. You just pay the invoice.
They went on to say that no medical invoices have ever been paid for by a medical insurance carrier to them as they are a fire service so not recognized as a medical provider although they always send paramedics and EMT's on all calls.
They also indicated that extremely few fire invoices were ever paid by insurance companies as the insurance companies only usually pay for the loss of the insureds residence - not for their service to put out fire.
By the way - they provide no ambulance service as they do not have ambulances. You or them call for an ambulance if you need and you then get another invoice form the ambulance company.
We with several of other Beavers were in 4 of their covered areas in Jan, Feb and March this year and did not have a clue to what we may encounter if we dialed 911 for help. (Yuma Foothills, Catalina, San Tan valley for us) Each location requires a separate fee which start at $262.00 for the 6 mos coverage period. Fortuna De Oro had worked a $50.00 fee for winter 2017 with them for their park only.
We may well want to watch where we stay if this is going to be a trend we have to deal with in the Golden Years.
