Easy solutions to the Firefighters problem. PRIVATIZE THEM. Put their jobs up for competitive bids and allow private companies to operate employ and administer the fire services in the local communities.
One problem with privatizing something like firefighting is that there is an inherent distortion in the marketplace when you're dealing with a job function that serves the public interest best when it is done the
least. Just think about it . . . from the standpoint of public interest and public safety, the best scenario imaginable is one in which the firefighters never have to respond to a single fire.
This is one reason why it is so hard to privatize public functions that are largely "preventive" or "responsive" in nature. New York City used to do this back in the 19th century, and they had to put a stop to it because they ended up with competing fire companies running around setting fires just so they could work more.