Sad situation for sure for everyone involved. A very good example, however, of something I learned during my career in the fire service and tried to pass on to others in training classes as their instructor was the importance of NFPA Standards.
It's immaterial whether or not your locality adopts any particular NFPA Standard, either in part or in whole. The fact that all NFPA standards are consensus standards is why, as in this case, the applicable NFPA standard (NFPA 1670) will be presented as Plaintiff's Exhibit A.
In my opinion, NFPA Standards ARE the standards for the fire service in the USA. If a fire and EMS department cannot meet all of the provisions of a particular standard, e.g., NFPA 1670, then it should clearly communicate that information to its local leaders and the public they serve. That communication should state that until such time as the department has the staffing, training, and equipment to fully comply with the standard, the department will not response to emergencies covered by the standard.
Harsh? You bet. Difficult to execute? You bet x 2. But having a firefighter LODD and telling their survivors how and why it happened...

I had this conversation with my fire district commissioners yesterday. After the recent floods in the Houston area, the tax board wants us to buy a boat for water rescues. I advised them that it wasn't as simple as going to the local Bass Pro Shop and buying a boat. It would need to be a specialized apparatus the same as an engine or ladder truck. In addition, personnel would require not only training in boat operations, but also water rescue, or it would be a waste of taxpayer money, and a liability for the department and the fire district. I also will not allow my crews to perform functions for which they were not equipped and trained to do. They were reminded that their contract with us specifies that we must follow all NFPA recommendations. All lives matter, but none more so than my crews.