As a retired lifetime industrial and volunteer firefighter certified to the command level in HAZMAT, La. & nationally certified EMT, certified in high rise rescue having been fire chief at the V.F.D. for 6 years and on scene commander for the last 13 years in the chemical industry let me say that your lack of understanding of what we do leaves you ill prepared to discuss this.

There is SO much more to the emergency services than you know and I base this on the simplicity of your thoughts.

Some others have made all the points needed to tell you to either admit you haven't considered all the factors involved OR go read up some more and come back with an advanced knowledge base with which you can discuss your concerns.

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Houses aren't made of wood anymore. We use fire retardant gypsum board, and other resistant construction materials....add smoke detectors and fire fighters on call are overkill.

Let me address this for you from an experienced point. #1. What is the current % of houses in existence that are built this way? What do we do? Just shut down the fire stations and tell those houses not built to the latest standards to go pound sand? #2. Have you ever gone into one of those homes constructed that way after a fire? Do you think everything that is moved into those buildings are fire resistant too? #3. Did you know that smoke detectors do not extinguish fires? They are to warn people to get out. Those that hear the alarm may be able to put it out BUT if it is already in an advanced stage or is fast moving I'm pretty sure the home owners OR the next door homeowners ... on each side OR perhaps ALL the home owners in the area would be happier if the local fire station was being manned.

Any questions?