Firefighting

I would like to talk about something of which I know nothing.

We all know that there are 'volunteer' fire departments. Can someone tell me what this means? Do they get paid? If not, why do volunteer firefighters exist at all--why don't they just get jobs with a city or county fire department?

Where do they get their fire trucks? Through fundraising? If so, they have the meanest bake sales in all the land.

What is the dynamic between volunteer and professional firefighters? Do they get along?

Does this confuse anyone else? Does anyone know these answers?