This is very intriguing to me, as my sil & I had an argument about this very thing about a month ago. She said that the firemen have to put out a fire, whether or not you pay them. In my mother's and my borough, you make a "donation" of $50 a year to the fire department, and she doesn't think we should pay the $50 on my mother's house.
I have many friends & family members who are or have been firemen. The amount of training that they do is incredible! Frankly, I don't know how they do it, especially when there's a death.
If nothing ever happens, it's worth $50 to know that the firemen
would be there, should something happen. I do feel very sorry about the pets that died, though.