[E. Pluribus Unum]

Aren't most rural firefighters volunteers? This is bizarre.

Where do you think the money for the fire trucks and hoses comes from?

Do you think that the term "volunteer" means that the volunteer pays for the privilege of putting out other peoples' fires by buying his/her own equipment?

Do you know how much a fire truck costs?

[Smokin' Joe]

We had a county wide fire tax which went to support all the departments. Revenue and was controlled and distributed by (iirc) the board of fire and rescue comissioners, and distribution was based on call load first, equipment requirements next.
If we wanted it and it wasn't in the budget, we raised the funds through raffles, dinners, and donations (NOT extortion).

I could not imagine standing there and watching someone's house burn.

[ConservativeMind]

We have fund raisers in our town.

Let's ask the Boy Scouts if they charge for helping others.

Anyone who thinks "volunteer" means being paid is a nut. Are you an Americorp "volunteer"? President Clinton helped popularize the concept that volunteering was a paying job. Apparently his thinking rubbed off on you.