ABSTRACT
Examining the work of public safety infrastructures provides important lessons about the expanse and limitations of the local welfare state. Fire and policing agencies remain on the frontlines of the welfare state, responsible for protecting the safety and property of citizens on a daily basis. The fire case serves as an excellent illustration of a three-dimensional view of power in that the regulatory structures and practices of the fire service are shown as shaping a social problem of fire. A "three-dimensional" view of power is concerned with the systemic ways in which governmental structures and processes perpetuate bias short of overt conflict or the influence of political actors. Despite political will for reform, organizations will continue to be marked by their own institutional dynamics and normative orders. The successful implementation of reintegrative policing models will depend on intergovernmental partnerships as well as partnerships with community-based organizations.
