Who pays for firemen kicking in neighbor's door?

On Memorial Day Sunday, a friend of mine woke up smelling gas in her townhome she rents. She went to wake up her son and his girlfriend who wouldn't. Afraid, she called 911 and the police and firemen immediately secured the area and found the source of the gas...a gas leak from a motorcycle parked in her garage. Her neighbors on either side of her (townhome mind you) were not responsive to knocks on their doors but my friend told the firemen they were not home. They kicked in the doors anyway and found no one home and everything was OK other than damage to the doors. Well her landlord took it upon themselves to pay for the damage (to be in good graces with their neighbors) and come to find out their Homeowner's Insurance will not pay for it saying it was due to negligence. It was an accident! They paid for the work up front and in cash...$900 per door!!! And now since the landlord's insurance won't pay for it, they expect my friend to pay, which she cannot. Any suggestions or advice?

If the people were home, and the FD did not kick the door, then they would be liable for not doing your job if the people got sick, or if there were other complications.

I would file a claim with the motorcycle owner's insurance carrier.

The question I have is, who's motorcycle was leaking? If it was yours, or your son's, then y'all are responsible.

sue the city or whoever runs the fire department