Commissioners approve agreement with Deepstep volunteer fire
Jul. 13—Fire protection has vastly improved over the years since fire departments have agreed to work together in time of need.
Case in point, Baldwin County.
Local firefighters now have the help they need to battle large fires since entering into Mutual Aid Agreements with several area fire departments.
Baldwin County Fire Chief Victor Young recommended that the county establish a Mutual Aid Agreement with the Deepstep Volunteer Fire Department.
Young said Baldwin County already has an agreement with Washington County Fire Rescue and he thought it was a good idea to create a similar agreement with the Deepstep Volunteer Fire Department.
Commissioner Kendrick Butts asked Young to explain what the agreement means.
"A Mutual Aid Agreement is that for any structural fire that occurs in our district or they need our help, or we need their help, we can call them," Young said. "We can call their dispatch and they can call our dispatch and we can help each other with any sort of structural fire or any other type of fire call."
Commissioner Sammy Hall asked if there were other fire departments in the area Baldwin County has agreements with.
Young said the county has an Automatic Aid Agreement with Milledgeville Fire Rescue Services and East Lake Fire Services.
Other Mutual Aid Agreements exist between Baldwin County and Wilkinson County, Hancock County, Putnam County and Jones County.
"Any county that touches Baldwin County, we have a Mutual Aid Agreement with those counties," Young said. "We call them and they assist us or they call us and we assist them."
Commissioner Emily C. Davis said it really depends on how large the fire is at the time.
Young agreed, saying that was the main thing.
"I always have a battalion chief on the scene and he or she will call whatever agency is needed," Young said.
Commissioners unanimously approved the request following a motion by Hall and a second by Davis.
