ReadWriteWeb: "There are approximately 30,000 fire departments in the United States, and about 86% of them are staffed fully or partly with volunteers. Typically these volunteers are notified of a fire via pager or one-way radio. They then get themselves to the fire station, suit up, and leave for the fire. Often, there is little information about the other responders that may arrive on the scene or about the need for certain kinds of equipment, most notably a tanker truck to supply water."
