Comment on American cops think they're what American firemen ARE.
Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 21 hours agoIt depends what state/county/city you live in. For instance, battling the Palisades Fire we had the city LAFD, the LA County Fire Department, and CalFire all coordinating resources, including some of the incarcerated firefighters who just got a raise from $1.00/hr to $7.25/hr and are starting to be able to apply for regular firefighter certification when they get out. And yes, our taxes pay for this, one of the most-supported uses of that money. They also do fast-water rescue when we have enough rain to flood the streams and rivers, help extract crash victims and put out flaming vehicles on the highways, and rescue hikers and mountain bikers on the local trails…
Whereas if you live in a rural red area, there may only be volunteers, because there’s not voter support for a professional fire department.
NotJohnSmith@feddit.uk 21 hours ago
That’s really interesting, thanks. Incredible that it’s a political stance, why do Republicans vote against it can I ask? - is it seen sort of like a socialist provision?
Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 21 hours ago
I wouldn’t know, but probably something like “I ain’t payin’ for putting out someone else’s fire! And I sure as hell ain’t payin’ a bunch guys to sit around the firehouse when nuthin’ is burnin’!”
Meanwhile a lot of the work our firefighters do throughout the year is clearing brush, creating and maintaining pre-emptive fire lines so they’ll have places to make a stand when wildfires do erupt, and making sure buildings are less likely to burn in the first place.
Oh that reminds me, I should probably add, “Ain’t nobody gonna tell me what I can do on my property!”