The first ever Roman fire brigade was created by Marcus Licinius Crassus. During fires, they would arrive and Crassus would offer to buy the burning building from the owner at a very low price. They would put out the fire if the owner agreed, but if they refused then they would simply let it burn. – WTF Fun Facts
WTF Fun Fact – Crassus’s Fire Brigade
I heard the same thing happened in Chicago in the 1871, except it was the good fellas.