[rootusrootus]

> Private fire departments

These are still definitely a thing. Though I expect they must be regulated so we don't end up in a Rome-style situation.

Edit: Found it. If you're in an area with something like Rural Metro, they put out the fire either way. If you don't have an annual membership with them, then they will invoice you. Nobody offering to buy your home for pennies on the dollar or standing around waiting for your credit card to clear before hosing down the flames.

[arcticbull]

My understanding is there are very few, and each dollar profiteered off this basic service is not spent improving the fire department. Do you have statistics on this?