Prop. FIRE is a ballot proposal being put before voters on the Nov. 5 election ballot. If approved, it will provide funding to protect our emergency services and enable the Cottleville Fire Protection District to: Maintain the level of emergency services and response times currently provided, Continue to hire and retain highly qualified firefighters, Maintain and provide up-to-date equipment and gear for EMS, firefighting and rescue, Replace firefighter gear that contains coatings now linked to cancer, and Maintain training opportunities to keep our firefighters and community safe in ever-changing emergency situations. Prop. FIRE includes a 12-cent operating tax rate increase, which would cost the owner of a home valued at $300,000 less than $6 per month (or about $2 per month for every $100,000 of home value).