"The most likely things to happen on an airfield are heavy landings, ground loops etc which hardly require fire cover.
As for rescuing people from a burning aircraft - within a few seconds there's not really much left - so either the occupants are able to get out unaided or they're not."
Quite probably correct.
No disrespect intended here but...The firemen at my base airfield spend most of the day polishing their helmets
- in truth they do get involved in other duties such as jogging, cutting the grass, cleaning the fire engine, moving the fire engine (which is parked in the hangar and always obstructing the egress of my aircraft) and working out in the gym.
I am joking here
(before the righteous aviation fireperson's spokesperson descends on me) and they do much of the commercial ground crew type stuff at the airport.
It would appear that a civvy fireman's lot would involve far more frequent fire (of admittedly lower intensity).
SB