I think you may be wrong there, edmond64 could clarify, but while a/p fire service may be there to deal with initial problem, and are equipped to do so, it in no way means they are any less professional. As far as I am aware their job is to contain fire and deal with immediate threat threat to life until other units arrive, that is not a lesser skill but a different one. They should be considered pros along with their non-airport colleagues. Remember, these are the guys who will enter the burning a/c if need be and assist evac. Would you or Smudge do that?
You are certainly on the right lines. The airport fire service are trained to the same basic standard as the local authority(eg. Fire behaviour, breathing apparatus, search techiques etc... the list is endless)at this point they take slightly different paths. The A/P firemen specalise in a/c fires where as the LAFB would concentrate on structural and RTC'S etc..If the unthinkable did happen the a/p fire service are the main players and will control fire fighting op's as they are the specalists and have the right equipment, the LAFB on the other hand would support the airport fire service by supplying water and man power to were it was needed.
Also there is an overlap, a secondary role for the AP fire service is to provide cover for the whole estate(terminal, hangars etc..) For small incidents they will attend and then hand it over to the LAFB as their main priority is the airfield. So dont knock them, they dont recieve the same amount of calls as the LAFB (WHICH IS A GOOD THING) but one day you may thank them!!!