The calls come into the New York Police Department and the New York Fire Department's Public Safety Answering Center, which is manned by both types of dispatchers answering calls.

WSJ: New York City's 911 System Swamped Again

Minister Bernard Flouquet from the Public Services Department, who has responsibility for the airport fire service, said a public inquiry would have no benefit other than to confirm that the department had acted appropriately and responsibly.

BBC: Assurances over Guernsey water

Steve Ruda, the public information officer for the Los Angeles City Fire Department, said this fire hit an emotional chord with some of the firefighters.

CNN: Showbuzz

Most of us get by on a patchwork of public and private services, with overlapping responsibilities: the fire department (paid for with tax revenues, usually) will put out the fire, while most homeowners have insurance to pay for the damages.

FORBES: Is Fire Protection a Right or a Privilege?

But whereas most other states concentrate their fire on the tobacco industry, the state's Department of Public Health now believes it is necessary to make targets of the smokers themselves, and get them to quit.

ECONOMIST: The anti-smoking campaign

If you want to make such a gift, you'll need a qualified appraisal, a public charity willing to accept the gift--there's only so much practice a fire department can take--and state laws allowing it (Kansas' health department, for example, limits fire-training exercises to interior portions of the home, not the total structure).

FORBES: Ultradeductible