If you are in a tall building that is on fire, you need a fire escape.
However, when the buiding is not on fire, the fire escape is a wasting asset. It takes up space, it needs maintainance, it is a possible means of entry for burglars.
The point being that you only actually NEED the fire escape
when there is a fire.
Now, to a certain extent, the Fire and Rescue services have already dented the market by providing self-propelled portable ladders; but capacity is limited.
Now, many commodities are extensively traded as "futures". Traders try to predict the price of a given commodity at a given time. But the time that a fire escape will be required is unpredictable, and when it is required, the price of survival will be correspondingly high. And, like a hotel room or an aircraft seat, it is a commodity which is "infinitely perishable".
The proposal is therefore to fund the Fire and Rescue services by selling time slots in advance. Those wishing to avail themselves of the service will be required to place a deposit in escrow. They may then bid on time slots which they can re-sell, at a profit or loss accordingly.
When a fire actually occurs, the cost to the individual summoning the emergency services is set by the price of that particular time slot.
This will provide a solid revenue stream for hard-up local government. Ok, so some people will probably die, but they'll probably be the less well off ones who couldn't afford to contribute to campaign funds for local politicos. The property losses will be no greater than before; the fire is still extinguished free of charge, they just don't rescue anyone.
The real fun would be when fires break out in two expensive apartment buildings simultaneously, and an eBay-style bidding war breaks out as the flames lick higher and higher...