It looks like Omaha Nebraska is considering taking steps towards switching to a private-based fire service. It’s been a while since I have heard this topic. It’s not uncommon to hear of communities switching to private ambulance service, but privatizing the fire service is something that I rarely hear about.

I’m usually all for private ambulance service as it saves tax dollars and is staffed with paramedics who don’t have their duties divided between fire fighting and medicine. I’m not really sure how a private fire service would work. I’m assuming they would rely on billing insurance companies for structure fires but what about everything else? Would they receive subsidies? If so would that defeat the purpose of switching to a private-based system?

This truly is a topic that I know nothing about. I’m really interested to learn more. If anyone has any experience working with private-based fire, please let me know. I would love to hear all about it.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100908/NEWS01/709089874/1003154