The quality was assured because rich and poor alike were covered by the system. Everyone could access the system as needed and everyone paid into the system through their taxes. Through the political process, the problem of fires was moved from the realm of individual concern to collective responsibility. Today, the need for universal fire service seems obvious. Government has a distinct and important role in our society.
Private firms seek to maximize their return on investment for their owners.
For business, at least part of the game of private profit maximization is to seek to externalize expenses. That is, to pass on as much of the risks and costs of doing business to employees, the community, and even other firms. Government can't work that way. Someone must make the focus of their activity the whole community, the collective, and the mission of equality and justice. While recognizing the special social mission of government there is, of course, a legitimate role for questioning how well we are organized to be effective in serving the collective needs of the community.