It makes sense now days to train people in specific skills, that their own brigade doesn't have, if they are in a position to respond to specialist incidents with another brigade.
Eg You are a member of say, a rural brigade, no BA / RCR or Hazmat. But you work in the local town, with a brigade that has BA / RCR / Hazmat, and are in a position to respond to incidents from work.
The town brigade gets a person able to respond during weekdays, and the rural brigade has a member who has extra skills, who can assist in increasing the rural brigades skills and knowledge.
As long as the person is able to keep up the skills, then what is the problem in training people in specialist skills, when they don;t have the equipment within their own brigade?
Pip