Mutual Aid Agreements key for local fire departments, says Bay Roberts chief

By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

When the wildfires erupted this past summer, fire departments from throughout the province seemed to mesh together seamlessly to combine forces and help each other.

That coordination didn’t come though without efforts over the years to establish working relationships between departments, whether through standardized training, professional development, and mutual aid agreements.

Bay Roberts Fire Rescue Chief Mike Murphy well appreciates the value of the latter. Bay Roberts Fire Rescue has signed mutual aid agreements with the Bay de Grave Regional Fire Department, the Spaniard’s Bay-Tilton Fire Department, and the Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade. “Just think of it as a hockey team,” said Murphy. “You’re out playing on the ice, and then you’ve got another line to come in and back you up when you need help. As a fire chief, it gives you peace of mind knowing that if you get a bigger emergency in your community that you have your fellow brothers and sisters from different departments to call upon to provide assistance.” 

The agreements improve camaraderie between departments, as well. “The more departments work together, the better it is for the overall fire service,” said Murphy. “You know the people, you know the chiefs. It’s excellent.” 

Murphy said he speaks with the chiefs of the neighbouring departments at least every second week. He cited an industrial accident in Port de Grave in which an 18-wheeler rolled over. The Bay Roberts brigade contacted the Bay de Grave Department, and the two worked together to successfully free both victims from the vehicle. “We definitely helped save someone’s life by working as a team,” Murphy said.