In rural areas FRs may be the only emergency medical people available. Which allows them to be a great set of extra hands. While the more advanced trained people are treating, the FR can fetch equipment, support non injured family members, and treat less injured, allowing the highest trained to work on the most severe injured. We are also great at keeping bystanders away. I've been stopping and helping since 1988, only once has an EMT not working for the Fire Dept.
Fire fighters are a breed of their own.
I don't fight fires, but through my volunteer work as a Red Cross Disaster Action Team Caption, I see my fair share. We were called out before anyone discovered there were no survivors. My partner found out before me. When I asked him where the victims were, he simply turned his flashlight on what I thought was a piece of burnt wood. I never lost it, but did think about pay back.