If you trespass into a derelict building, knowing full well that you're trespassing and that you could get hurt, then the cost should absolutely be on you. If you are out doing something normal, within the law and you need help then no, you shouldn't have to pay. Understand the difference?

When I sat down for lunch today, there were 6 firefighters at the table next to me. I related the basics of this story and asked them what they thought. To a man they all said that it was stupid to charge people for a rescue. If they are injured they have to pay for the ambulance but they see it as just part of doing their job. A couple of them said that they have rescued Urbexers and the cops wrote them tickets for trespassing as soon as they came out. Its a bit of insult to injury but hey, we all know what we are getting into when we enter a site.

Getting written a ticket for breaking the law is understandable (even if it still sucks...). That being said, I still stand by what I said before regarding rescues. If a person pays taxes towards the service, they get it otherwise 'free' no matter how 'stupid' they may be.
Let's put it this way: If I cost my fellow taxpayers thousands because I do something 'stupid' during a UE, they can consider that partial restitution for all of the decades I've paid taxes for their kids to go to public schools (just for the record, I did not go to public school nor did I ever receive financial aid of any sort; my parents both worked to send me to Catholic schools. Just saying, in case anyone says, "Well what about when taxpayers sent YOU to school ??" I've sent kids to public schools w/ my tax dollars; the reverse never took place.)
Everyone pays for someone else at some point, no matter how indirectly. There is no need for UE folks to be singled out in this regard (God almighty, especially not on a UE BOARD !!!!) Have I 'cost' society at some point ? Probably, some way, some how. Has society milked me (and, likely, most of you) as well for services, grants and programs which I'm forced to pay for yet never took part in ? Oh, HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL yes, believe me!