When you live in *little town USA* your firemen and women are all volunteers. They respond with taxpayers giving them money. Less than a minute after having the alarm go off in town, you hear them on the road with their red lights flashing. The towns pay for the upkeep of the trucks..
Re: post 144 should read they respond WITHOUT taxpayers giving them money...
In light of all this, one has to think that may be a more viable option in many cases.
I can see that in a big city or large community, with office buildings and hospitals, that would not work due to the training and complexity of fighting fires in those environments.