Reply #108: Why can't he do that? Because then EVERYONE should be allowed to do so, [View All]

[Rabrrrrrr]

and most would.

Why pay for car insurance if I can just call the insurance agent after the accident and pick some up then?

The department needs people's subscription money to survive, with the understanding that the bast majority of those subscriptions will be "wasted" because people will never need the services - but the money they paid in helps the cover the costs for those for whom it is needed.

It's called "insurance", not "fee for service".

Otherwise, hell, let's go with your idea and make it a true fee for service - no subscription, just bill the homeowner for actual costs of fighting the fire and the time it took. Perhaps anywhere from $5K to $20K per fire. Then the firemen can send a salesmen as part of the firefighting team to go to the homes of neighbors and say "We can help protect your home now for just $2500 (we take credit cards!), or you can take the chance that your home, too, will catch on fire, and then you'll be paying $5-20K".

That's the scenario from which you are arguing.