Coincidence ?
Well I don't think so. This thing about fires and heroism doesn't seem to be rare. I have read numerous stories about fire-fighters - usually volunteers rather than professional - who have done the same thing.
There was also a case about a nurse in the UK a couple of years ago who repeatedly caused medical emergencies so he/she could also gain recognition.
Similar kind of thing to the Munchhausen's by proxy, but where that stops and it becomes simply a case of a pathetically inadequate personality, I don't know.