It was like that a long time ago. You had to subscribe to a fire fighting service. When you paid your house was identified by a firemark on the front of it. If you didn't have them the firemen would stand there and let the house burn, while protecting your neighbors who had subscribed to their service.
You still see the marks on buildings today in older cities like lower Manhattan, Boston, Philly etc.
I'm betting Einstein there didn't understand that he needed to subscribe to get fire fighting service. County government FAIL.