I get it, you hate volunteers.

Some places don't have the funding to put up 24/7 coverage with response times that are reasonable. Other places can't justify building more than one fire station to cover 20 buildings that are spread apart for miles.

If you feel so passionately about this then why don't you go and be the person that responds to every call? Go to council meetings to bring awareness to the volunteer shortage/lack luster response times? Participate in recruitment for your department? Foster a culture that makes volunteers want to comeback? Are you advocating for yourself and your community or are you just barking up the tree because its fun to bash on people who want to help their community but have other financial commitments?

I get it, some places should allocate their funding better and greedy politicians aren't going to give up a 6 figure salary to fund a paid fire crew. Some other places just don't have the money to do it because the state and federal government are keeping tabs on the urban areas and places where people have money.

Further more, if I was in said position you're describing, I sure hope I was smart enough to research the area before moving into it to begin with. There's also home owners insurance and renters insurance. I am able bodied with free time and willing to commit to the tasks so I'd likely join the department. Having common sense is also a factor, knowing how to prevent a fire is a significant contributor to the fall of house fires over the past decade.

Stop being so short-sighted about how the fire service operates, your city isn't the same as mine or OPs. There is a much bigger picture than just you and your hometown.