The Organization And Provision Of Fire Protection Services By Municipal Governments In Hillsdale, Jackson And Lenawee Counties - Michigan

Fire protection attempts to reduce the costs of fear, injury, death, uninsured property loss, and high fire insurance payments. Municipalities in protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the community have generally placed a high priority on providing fire protection with public revenues as one of the services to the residents. Local municipal officials face decisions on the allocation of financial resources. An expenditure for fire protection is a foregone opportunity for expenditure on parks for example. As growth occurs in a given area, local official must decide whether additional fire protection is needed, and if so, how should the protection be afforded? Should the local government unit start up their own department, purchase additional service, pool resources with a neighboring municipality or select not to provide protection leaving community residents to collectively organize and produce protection in the private sector. Local communities choosing to produce fire protection services have several options from which to select regarding organization of fire protections services. Each option involves tradeoffs which officials and the community may wish to consider.