Police and Fire Roles

With respect to issues of first responder health and safety, the difference between police/sheriff and fire in risks and roles is that police cordon off areas, protect people and infrastructure, interview witnesses and make arrests, enforce quarantines,  help with command and control. Emergency medical services are an integral part of fire's role: HAZMAT expertise, search and rescue, centralized command, and responding to a vast array of medical emergencies on the spot.