Ready

Nikon D700, 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR lens @98mm, f/4.5, 1/100s, ISO 1600.

Firemen have to be Ready. There's no time to waste getting your gear together when there is an emergency. Everything is prepared for rapidity--even the hoses are meticulously piled to uncoil swiftly, and they have retracting exhaust systems that let them power up the trucks inside the building without fuming themselves out. 

I think the pole really started the idea of getting out the door quickly. Guys hear the bell and jump out of bed, or run out of the Kitchen, like in this Logan, UT firehouse,  and slide down the pole to the garage where their individual gear is laid out and ready to jump into. Their over suits and boots are climbed into right there--they bend over twice and then it's into the truck. They practice this sort of thing, and it allows them to respond expeditiously to emergencies. Basically, leaving their clothes out saves lives.

I told that to my wife. I still have to clean up after myself. Some guys have all the fun.