This is almost enough for me to move to England. Our "public servants" are pathetic parasites.
They charge us 80$ a year fire fee, but still they do not have a system here to exclude those that do not pay. That fire department needs a huge lawsuit.
I knew long ago that I am on my own when it comes to fire protection, so roof sprinklers, fireproof exterior construction, and generators saved 3 of my properties in the 100 year wildfire that fanned over my house with 200' high flames.
Still, I had to fight the Gestapo police and sheriffs in order to have the "right" to protect my lands, until the flames came over the ridge and they ran away like scared cats. Fortunately I had a white ford explorer with some numbers on the door, a nice red hard hat and a yellow firemans jacket in the garage to wear while driving between properties inside the sacred fire lines. [three day fire] Just a salute and wave to the gestapo then gave me free passage between properties.
ABSOLUTELY, if I had not played the game and risked my life, all I had built and worked for for 30 years would be toast.
Out of +/- 30 houses in the immediate area, mine was the only one left. 3 or 4 others nearby survived, and they later put up big cardboard signs saying "thank you firefighters!"
make me puke - I was there in the firestorm and NO firefighters were within miles. Sheer luck.
However, Ian, taxes will have no influence on the stupidity and narrow mindedness of the public security forces. You cannot PURCHASE common sense.
Lest a fireman take offense, this is not in a city, but rather a vast wilderness, where the game plays out much different. I have burned brush piles the size of a city block, which methinks would be unusual in say, Boston. Neighbors did'nt bat an eye.
Rethought; Compton, California was burned to the ground by its residents because a drunken, drug addicted violent criminal named Rodney King got smacked by the cops a few times. The fireman did not respond because they were afraid to enter the zone of insanity.