I kinda miss the old way as well, But we need newer random locations for fires, I suggested before a while back about Brush fires. meaning find a wooded area that has a bunch of tree's. I also still like the idea of actual house fires, meaning someone who has a bought house can have the house catch fire. And the way to prevent the house from being destroyed by the fire is go to the bank and buy Home Owners insurance, then if you buy that, your house wont catch fire for 1 game month. And if you dont buy the insurance and your house caught fire, I think the house should disappear until the next GMX, the person that owns the house wont be able to enter it for any reason.
I know that house fire sounds stupid to some, but it's still a way of interaction with the houses and gives fire fighters more fires to fight instead of just having to fight fires at businesses.