Two recent structure fires demonstrate the value of fire protection and life safety systems.  A sprinkler system extinguished a fire at College of the Redwoods that otherwise could have resulted in a very significant fire in the large cafeteria building.  At a second residential fire a smoke alarm alerted occupants, allowing them to escape and avoid serious injury or worse.

Let's face it. As much as we need firefighters, and pay lip service to their contributions to our society, in the end we don't -- and often can't -- pay them what they're worth.

Instead, we can at least offer all the people who make a living risking their own lives to protect the rest of us our heartfelt thanks and appreciation. Unfortunately, such emotional demonstrations are often only made when the worst has come to pass.

Sept. 11, 2001, provided the best example of this. People in their day-to-day lives don't realize what it is like for the firefighter who runs into a burning building when every other person is running for their lives. Seeing it firsthand, and then realizing that many of those who went up never came down, brought the harsh realities of firefighting to light. They create a safer world by putting their own lives at risk, and we thank them for that.