Kurt Vonnegut

Volunteer fire departments are almost the only examples of enthusiastic unselfishness to be seen in America. They rush to the rescue of any human being, and count not the cost. The most contemptible man in town, should his contemptible house catch fire, will see his enemies put the fire out. And, as he pokes through the ashes for remains of his contemptible possessions, he will be comforted and pitied by no less than the Fire Chief. There we have people treasuring people as people. It's extremely rare. So from this we must learn.