When my neighbor’s house caught on fire earlier this week, nearby residents quickly flooded into the street to watch the commotion.

The fire had started on my neighbor’s backyard porch, and quickly spread to their house and the nearby foliage after a propane tank exploded.

Within minutes, approximately 15 fire department trucks arrived, including 4 engines from fire stations around the area.

Despite the worries of occupants whose houses were adjacent to the fire, the fire was contained and did not spread throughout the neighborhood. Everyone escaped the house safely. This was largely due to the quick action of the firefighters, who also rescued my neighbor’s dog from the house.

 
Events such as this one remind me of the strength of our infrastructure and public programs in America. While many citizens complain about their taxes, the benefits we receive from paying them can greatly outweigh the costs.

“The Seattle Fire Department (SFD) provides fire protection and prevention, technical rescue, and emergency medical services for the City of Seattle,” said the Seattle Fire Department in its 2015-2016 proposed budget report.

There are 33 fire stations in Seattle that deploy “engine companies, ladder companies, aid and medic units, and fireboats to mitigate the loss of life and property resulting from fires, medical emergencies, and other disasters,” said the Department in the budget report.

Each aids one of six battalions that divide the city.

The following represents the personnel in Seattle alone, according to Seattle.gov.

While this may seem commonplace to many people, it is easy to forget that these services are not available to everyone in the world, or even everyone in America.

It is a blessing to be able to pick up the phone, dial 911, and have a fire engine or emergency vehicle sent to you regardless of your ability to pay. It is a blessing to have competent firefighters that arrive quickly.

We can sometimes forget to be thankful for living in a city with such tremendous public services–a fact that I remembered as I looked through the window of my dining room and watched the blaze that was destroying my neighbor’s house be extinguished.

Sometimes our tax dollars are well spent. Sometimes city government deserves credit. This is one of those times: when it comes to the Seattle Fire Department, Seattle should be proud.