> for fire services monthly, like water instead of having it obfuscated in general taxation. I prefer user fees not taxation.
That would have to be mandatory service though (remember, firemen can perform inspections, fine people etc. - they're not there just for fighting fires), at which point it's just simpler to pay for that through taxes.
Firemen mostly don't fight fires. We've decided to send them out on every ambulance call just in case, so they do have a lot of work, but it's not clear if they're adding anything or if it's busywork.
(Which isn’t to say we should make them work less, but we should get them smaller trucks like other countries have.)
That's not the way it is everywhere. I'm a volunteer firefighter and I'd say at least 19 times out of 20 my calls are for a fire. The other occasions would be traffic control at an accident or assisting EMTs with lifting a person.
Obviously depends on location, but normally only state-funded firefighters are performing the prevention duties (and have authority to fine people and companies).
