<span>Public safety
Protecting the public against fire, explosion etc is the primary duty. It is a public matter because even though fires are often started privately, they can spread and damage property and endanger lives of the surrounding community. Very often they get out of control much faster than a private party would be able to put them out.</span>
It was mostly Christianity that helped to unite the people of Europe during the Middle Ages, but it should be noted that this was also a very divisive and oftentimes violent religion as well.
