Galt's Wildfire

I came across another Objectivist editorial about wildfires. The blaming of government regulation is to be expected. What wasn't expected was the description of firefighters as heroes. Firefighters hardly fit the Objectivist view of human merit. They're government employees, not entrepreneurs. They're unhestitatingly obedient to orders from their commanders, not independent people making use of their own reason. They're dedicated to serving the common good, not making a private profit. About the only similarity is aesthetic -- the strength, courage, and activeness of a firefighter evoke the Randian ideal of the powerful conqueror -- more so, even, than the nerds and schmoozers who are more likely to actually fit the criteria of an objectivist hero.