stewart@ihldt.UUCP (R. J. Stewart) (11/01/84)
Private fire departments are a reality in our own times, in our own country. In Scottsdale, AR, fire protection is provided by the private firm Rural/Metro Fire Department, Inc. The cost of fire protection per person is about 1/4 the national average for cities in the same population range (in 1973 dollars, the national average was $24.39, in Scottsdale it was $5.70). The quality of fire protection is superior to that provided by most government-run departments. Fire losses in Scottsdale are less than half the national average. Bob Stewart ihldt!stewart -- Figures from "Restoring the American Dream" by R. J. Ringer; see my other article in this newsgroup for more information.