I-6 - Resolution 2024-053 - Johnson County Mutual Aid 28E Agreement 2024

WHEREAS, automatic and/or mutual aid may help fire departments or fire districts of all the undersigned parties to meet NFPA 1710 or NFPA 1720; and, WHEREAS, it is the intent of the parties to reduce response times to life-threatening incidents by requesting and/or providing closest unit response; and, WHEREAS, it is the intent of the parties to this agreement to allow and encourage trained personnel of member departments to have the opportunity to take appropriate action to reduce the risk of death and injuries to the public and emergency responders, and prevent or limit property loss; and, WHEREAS, the parties desire to increase the number of trained firefighters or emergency response personnel and equipment responding to emergency incidents or incidents dangerous to the public; and, WHEREAS, Chapter 28E, Code of Iowa, provides that powers, privileges, or authority exercised by a public agency of this state may be exercised jointly with any other public agency of this state having such powers, privilege, and authority; and, WHEREAS, the parties desire to enter into an agreement pursuant to Chapter 28E to render fire, rescue, and emergency medical services, and emergency and non- emergency assistance, on a reciprocal basis. THEREFORE, THE PARTIES HERETO mutually agree to give fire, rescue, and emergency medical assistance when needed on a reciprocal basis under the following terms and conditions: SECTION I. AUTHORITY TO REQUEST AND RESPOND TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE The power to make a request for assistance or to provide aid under this agreement shall reside in the ranking personnel of the member department responding to an emergency call or incident dangerous to the public subject to control of the chief of the department or official designee. Any member department shall have the right to request assistance from any other member department or departments, subject to the terms and conditions of this agreement. In the event the member fire department is unavailable or delayed, the Johnson County Joint Emergency Communications Center (JECC) may page or dispatch additional departments, units, and resources in accordance with preplanned instructions or as needed. For purposes of this agreement, the “requesting department” shall mean the department asking for assistance and the “responding department” shall mean the department sending or providing assistance. The terms “member department” and “member” shall mean the fire department of the respective parties hereto. Each member department shall, at a minimum, evaluate and consider its Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) preplans and cards before January 1st of each calendar year of this agreement. With the growth of Johnson County, member departments will evaluate their first-due district and should give consideration to adding, modifying, or updating their MABAS zones as part of their yearly review. The chief of a member department shall have the authority to modify, amend, or update their department’s MABAS plans, cards, and instructions at any time. Modifications, amendments, or updates to MABAS will be promptly shared and communicated with all member departments and JECC.