Fighting Fires -- and Terrorism

Fox News reported yesterday that the Homeland Security Department wants firefighters to take on a new role in the fight against terrorism. (See the video here.) DHS is training firefighters to be on the lookout for suspicious characters and stuff like bomb manuals, blueprints and night vision goggles when they find themselves in private homes. The idea here is that firefighters, unlike police officers, don't need warrants to take a look around when they're in somebody's house.

(Hat tip: Boing Boing)