Dogs have a tough time wearing a scott-pack. While they are good for search and rescue, sending a furry creature with a tendency to panic around fire into a burning building is not a good idea.
Dals are associated with firemen because they are carriage dogs. Horse drawn fire wagons came after human pulled ones (which are quite a sight to see. My local fire company has a human-drawn fire wagon that they take to parades and musters).
Cecil Says ...