Ben created an insurance company, and to protect the property he insured he advocated and financially supported the fire department. If you tour the old part of Philadelphia today you will see the familiar "4 handed wrist lock" plaque on many of the homes. (I think Ben Franklin Insurance might still use that symbol today) The story goes, that if your house had a plaque, meaning you were insured by Bens company, the fire fighters would work to put out the fire but if it wasn’t insured they let it burn.
