“NO”, cost recovery is currently being implemented in over 42 states. It was instituted over 17 years ago in response to increased fire department costs and decreasing tax revenues. Fire department charters’ stipulate that the department provide fire protection services. Yet, the overwhelming majority of responses today are not fire related. In a typical department over 50% of all responses are for medical help. Fire fighters are the largest group of providers of pre-hospital emergency care in North America.  Cost recovery, in addition to grants and fund raisers is a responsible method of meeting the costs of ever increasing non-fire related emergency responses.