An interesting example of cooperation is reported in the Jan 17, 1908 NYT:

Probably the most remarkable manner of extinguishing a fire occurred to-day at Boswell, a mining town near here [Johnstown, Penn], when hundreds of men, women, boys, and girls saved the town from destruction by throwing snowballs.

The town has no fire department, and water is scarce. The flames had gained much headway, and a building in which was stored sufficient powder to blow up the village was threatened.

As a last resource practically the entire population began throwing thousands of snowballs made from soft, wet snow, and after a time prevented the explosion and confined the flames to a half dozen buildings.