The Economics of Everyday Things
58. Firefighters
Aug 5, 2024
Joshua Hurwitz, a Tufts University economics lecturer, joins fire chiefs Eric Mackintosh and Steve Pegram to discuss the evolving role of firefighters. With fire incidents declining, they explore how firefighters are increasingly responding to medical emergencies. The conversation also highlights the rise of household fire hazards, such as cooking mishaps and lithium-ion batteries. They delve into the financial challenges faced by fire departments and the growing integration of emergency services, showcasing the shift from traditional firefighting to broader emergency response.
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Quick takeaways
- The shift from profit-based private fire brigades to tax-funded public fire departments underscores the evolving role of firefighters in community safety.
- With 80% of emergency calls being non-fire related, firefighters now serve primarily as first responders for medical emergencies, highlighting economic challenges in emergency services.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Firefighting
Firefighting has drastically changed over the years, moving from a community-driven responsibility to a fully-fledged public service. In the past, private brigades would respond to emergencies only if homes were paying customers, creating a profit-based system. Nowadays, fire departments are funded through municipal taxes, grants, and fundraising, emphasizing a commitment to public safety rather than profit. Despite a significant decrease in fire incidents, the number of salaried firefighters has risen, indicating a shift in the type of emergency services they provide beyond just firefighting.
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