This is a new concept to me (governments paying for fire departments). Fire departments have always been paid for by insurance companies, a long time ago there

This is a new concept to me (governments paying for fire departments). Fire departments have always been paid for by insurance companies, a long time ago there were competing departments, owned by competing insurers. Problem was if your house had the wrong insurance plaque attached, the competing fire service would just stand and watch your home burn down. In order to remedy this, the insurance companies formed a collective fire department that we all pay for via a fire service levy that is part of our house insurance.