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In 1800's United States, fire departments in many large cities (Chicago and New York, to name two) were private for-profit industries. If a homeowner did not pa
by IntrepidWorm 4y ago
In 1800's United States, fire departments in many large cities (Chicago and New York, to name two) were private for-profit industries. If a homeowner did not pay what was effectively protection money, the fire department would refuse to extinguish your property if it caught fire, and would sit around as the dwelling burned, in some cases with people still inside.
Fascinating idiom, thanks!
- remote_phone 4y agoThat exists today in areas where you have to pay the fire department separately.
- Sayrus 4y agoTom Scott did a video[1] about this. For the UK at least, this may have been an urban myth rooted in the fact that only the fastest fire brigades were paid[2]. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wif1EAgEQKI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wif1EAgEQKI [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_insurance_mark https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_insurance_mark