/// How would the families of the council workers/ firemen feel had their family member been sent into a situation to clear a mudslide which wasn't posing an immediate threat to people and another incident occured causing more loss of life! ///
You could say that about any potential danger, much better to act to correct it rather than wait until someone is killed.
Regarding the risk to the members of various services, these people have to go out to various dangerous situations from people stuck on a mountain side, people in distress on the water, to mending pot-holes in the roads etc,etc. it is their job.