It’s still a life they’re saving. If there are no humans inside, they still have to fight the fire and try to protect the structure anyway - so if the animals are there cowering in a corner (usually what happens), it’s usually little additional risk to evacuate the animals anyway.
Last night I watched a portion of a documentary on the WTC collapse.In this film were still images of firemen walking up the stairs as civilians walked down.I'm sure you've seen them.One such image showed a firemen sweating profusely with a look of dread on his face,being clearly aware that he might not have much longer to live.Are you *honestly* telling me that if it had been 2,000 cats trapped on the 90th floor instead of 2,000 humans you would expect that firemen to make that same walk to his all-but-certain death?
If there are no humans inside, they still have to fight the fire and try to protect the structure anyway,
If the house is empty they can,and should,fight the fire from outside with hoses.The only time a fireman should go into a burning structure is when failure to do so would surely...or possibly...endanger *human* lives.