Microsoft and private fire departments

Over at Security Focus, Mark Rasch, speaking about conflicting reports about Microsoft's decision not to provide Windows XP SP2 security patches to those running bootleg copies of the software, writes: "Imagine if the fire department checked the title of a house before it decided whether or not to extinguish a fire."

Years ago I took a tour of old-town Philadelphia. Various row houses were adorned by the logo of an insurance company. A tour guide told a group of us that Ben Franklin owned this insurance company, and also a local private fire department. If the row house was on fire, the tour guide said, Ben's fire department would only put out the fire if the house was underwritten by his insurance company. Perhaps an urban legend? I've never heard this story since, anywhere else.