When life and property are on the line, do you want to depend on the whim of someone’s work schedule or travel plans?

That’s what many Adams County residents face each year as the county’s fire protection program depends on volunteer resources.

Many years ago, the system of volunteer firefighters met a good need. Rural roads meant travel to the far reaches of a county was difficult — particularly when speed is important.

And dozens of years ago the volunteer firefighter system was good enough. The challenge today is the world has changed and people are far busier than they were 50 years ago.

Nearly all of the county’s volunteer fire crews report their biggest challenge is in manpower. They simply do not have enough able and willing people who can consistently respond to county fire calls. As a result the primary firefighting efforts fall to the Natchez Fire Department.

The city has an agreement with Adams County to respond to calls in rural parts of the county, but the agreement is perennially a sore subject with each side. The city usually thinks the county doesn’t pay enough for the services it provides while the county thinks it pays too much.

The reality is the cost of a life cannot be measured in monetary terms. County residents should be upset over the constant bickering about fire issues.

The solution seems simple — stop denying that the best option is to simply set aside political differences and work together.

Imagine the result if the city and county simply sat down together and said, “How can we provide the best, most efficient fire coverage for all residents of Adams County?”

It would almost have to be a much-needed improvement over the nearly annual bickering about the current arrangement.