In a world where most of us are busy operating in crisis mode, running around putting out fires, some are busy fireproofing. Fewer still are figuring out how to profit from the ones others allowed to start. Take Marcus Licinius Crassus, who created the first fire brigade. Instead of putting out fires immediately, he would offer to buy the burning houses from their desperate owners — at ridiculously low prices. If they agreed, he'd put out the fire, rebuild the house and either rent it to its previous owner or resell it at a large profit. Allegedly though, molten gold was poured down his throat either before or after his death... There's probably a lesson in here somewhere.