On June 8, Scottsdale City Council adopted a resolution between the city and neighboring Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community to allow the fire department of each administration to provide …
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On June 8, Scottsdale City Council adopted a resolution between the city and neighboring Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community to allow the fire department of each administration to provide mutual aid to each other.
Through this agreement, the fire departments of each jurisdiction will be able to conduct training exercises together and provide mutual emergency fire services.
According to city documents, this “will foster a cooperative atmosphere enabling the parties to work together for the purpose of providing for the safety and welfare of each agency’s citizenry with mutual respect for the jurisdictions.”
With the new mutual aid resolution, no additional funding or costs are incurred as a result.
The terms of this agreement will be effective for five years after authorization from the city council and will formalize, authorize and create a mutual aid framework between the two departments.
Previous to this agreement, the Scottsdale Fire Department responded to the jurisdiction serviced by the SRPMIC Fire Department through a mutual aid request.
This type of request must be formally made by SRPMIC first responders through the dispatch system as the department is not part of the Phoenix Regional Dispatch Center or the automatic aid system.
Mutual aid requests and responses are a vital service to the fire department as they increase the departments’ capabilities, which ultimately increase public safety for each operation.
“City of Scottsdale Fire Department staff collaboratively reviewed the agreement with SRPMIC and believes this agreement will be beneficial to both agencies and the communities they serve,” city documents stated.
As part of the mutual aid services each department can provide requested assistance in responding to fires, medical emergencies, hazardous material incidents, rescue and extraction services and any other emergency situation in which a fire department is responsible for.
When requesting or providing aid in an emergency setting, the fire chief of each department is responsible for determining how much assistance should be dispersed.
At the scene, the department of whatever jurisdiction requested aid has the ultimate command and control of the emergency, which is conducted by the respective fire chief.
City documents emphasized the importance of joint cooperation as a part of this agreement.
“The spirit of this agreement shall be to encourage the development of cooperative procedures and protocols...that will enhance the ability of the parties’ fire department to fulfill their missions,” the documents outlined.
Among those procedures and protocols, the departments will work together on joint purchases, communication, coordination, training, health and safety, fire prevention, public education and fire investigations.
Caroline Yu is a reporter for Independent Newsmedia covering Tempe. She reports on local news including areas of sustainability and education. Her previous work has been published on KCET's SoCal Connected and Cronkite News.
Caroline earned her degree in journalism and mass communications at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. From both college and high school journalism experiences, she's developed a passion for covering local communities and being a voice for others.
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