This has nothing to do with a paid/vs volunteer issue. It is an issue of firefighter saftey on both sides. These departments have been operating the status quoe for years. It is dangerous and gets greater every day. Overcrowding in these communities are greater than ever, causing instant death traps. A typical 1 or 2 family from the exterior may have 6 curtain walls dividing rooms to make room for five families on each floor. Running a career engine or volunteer by yourself in a typical situation is rediculous let alone in these situations. EFD capt and Bnechis are spot on. Until the new Engine 58 the career firefighters on E-58 and E59 were relying on grabing the booster line and extinguishing fires because of the issue of 1 man working, against everything we are trained, but did what they had too with what they had. No more booster line, but no additional manpower.