Good question. Here's a point to take note of Robert. Ze Gurman fire service is about 70% volunteer. They have aged equipment compared to the full time fire service. However, there are waiting lists to get onto the volunteer service. The system works well. Maybe the scum in Westminster have seen how some countries keep costs down by having these systems, and want to try it.
Think of the wages saved. These positions are highly rated, and people will do the job for no wage. Never mind privatisation, what about what could be saved. That's how they may see it.
My neighbour was a volunteer fireman for over 30 years. He loved his time training and working on the service. No pension, and no wages, but annual trips for a few days to visit other services, such as Northern Ireland and Cornwall.
I've just checked, and there are over 1,300,000 volunteer firemen in the service at the moment. The population here is around 86,000,000 I think. A lot of free service there.