Fighting fire has always been, and continues to be, a high-profile activity. While the actual number of fires continues to decline, firefighting activities typically require more resources (personnel, equipment, etc.) than any other type of emergency. Obviously, fires also have a greater potential to harm people and property than other emergencies.
Firefighters are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide rapid response. Although these firefighters are also Emergency Medical Services (EMS) certified and respond to medical assistance calls when available, the core function is always to mitigate fire emergencies. Fires double in size every minute they are allowed to grow unchecked, and many fires can be deadly if not immediately dealt with.