Mrs snooty, we definitely would have come. Strange.
Camel, I'm not sure how much we charge actually, I guess that's a different dept. We do have a reduced attendance policy if there are multiple recurrebt false alarms..
I do go down a pole! But there are stairs too lol.
My tunic is slightly different, the mens have braces attached to their slickers (trousers) a d we have more a dungaree style. The kit is hot and very heavy. Great at keeping heat out in a 🔥, but if working at a wild fire or similar it's sweltering.
It depends a bit on the incident, it's normally fire first, then ambulance. Depends on the size of the incident, what needs done, ie cars cut up. Once casualties are out then we would pass them over to ambulance.
After the casualties are out, debris cleared and vehicles made safe, we'd hand over to the police.. Generally! Each incident is different.. If medic one or air ambulance are called they sort of move up the list.
Following a house fire, we can either call fire investigation, building control or housing. Or all 3. Police are also informed of all house fires as there's monetary value involved. It's a combination of all really. We would put it out and ensure its out, but we would not just leave without involving other services, post incident.
Bonnie, Shift patterns are 2 days, 2 nights, 4 off. Days are 12 hours, nights 14. We are a 'wakeful watch' which means you get rest time but not bed. We never get through without calls though, sometimes they are back to back sometimes fewer. Alot more in the hot weather!
Boris, 
that doesn't surprise me at all! Why do something simply if you can know down walls, break down doors or cut up cars.... 