@Ferretsyndicate@radical.town honestly the history of fire departments is something that people wanking over "pure free markets will always solve problems!!!!" never really like to mention.

for a long time it was fire departments operating independently, and so often, you'd be trying to bargain with the fire crew that rolled up while your house burned.... or two different companies would arrive and start brawling about who gets to fight the fire (and get paid) while your house burned...