The City of Philadelphia is currently considering the possibility of privatizing its fire department. As a result, many people are pleading for the privatization to be scraped in favor of keeping the department under public control.

There are many reasons why this is important, ranging from concerns with response times and professionalism to fear that privatizing will not allow for as effective protection and access to emergency services. However, there are also many benefits associated with maintaining a public fire department which should be considered as well.

All cities, including Philadelphia, are no strangers to financial issues. The economic recession has greatly affected the city’s income and funding, and even with recent advances in revenue collection, there is still much work to be done. However, a public fire department offers many opportunities for additional revenue and funding.

Much of this comes from the contributions of private entities. This can include anything from federal grants to local donations from businesses or individuals in the community. Instead of being used in the operation of a department that may be sold down the line, these funds could be put toward something that truly benefits Philadelphia citizens — public safety and protection.