That tension has been with us since the beginning. Jefferson was the perfect example. "All men are created equal," but only if you're white, male, and own land. A history of compromise on slavery in order to "preserve the union", only to have it rupture anyway. It goes on and on. This is America, and will be until we decide to make some real changes. I don't see that happening.
Fires are only a small percentage of the calls most departments respond to. The majority is EMS, with various calls for some type of service making up the rest. As such, firefighters spend a lot of time in training for the various kinds of situations they're called to. There's also maintenance of equipment and gear, certifications, and in some cases, inspection of buildings for compliance. In my area, local departments have been funded to hand out smoke and CO detectors to homes that don't have them, as well as change batteries.
Add to that eating, sleeping, and exercise. Firefighters go from 0 to 100% when the alarm sounds, and that can be taxing on the heart, so cardiovascular fitness is essential.
We underestimate the intelligence of most animals. So, yes.