Mutual aid deals a boon for fire departments in CB Central, says Gushue
By Mark Squibb
A number of Conception Bay Centre communities have signed mutual aid agreements in the past year to improve fire protection services in the area.
“Our Municipal Fire Protection and Emergency Services Mutual Aid Agreement establishes a formal arrangement between neighbouring municipalities and fire departments in the Conception Bay Central area to aid one another during fires and other emergencies,” said Avondale’s Assistant Fire Chief Tom Gushue. “It’s purpose is to give each community access to more firefighters, apparatus, equipment, and other emergency resources when its own resources are insufficient or when the neighbouring department has specialized resources that are needed.”
Gushue said the agreement outlines a clear operating procedure for requesting and responding to a mutual aid incident.
“The fire chief of the municipality where the emergency occurs determines when mutual aid is needed and makes the request for required resources from another fire department,” said Gushue. “The responding department then advises what personnel and equipment are responding and their estimated arrival time. The requesting fire chief normally remains in place as incident commander; each department retains responsibility for its own personnel and equipment. Either department can withdraw its resources if they are needed in its own municipality or if conditions create an unacceptable safety risk.”
Gushue said that by signing mutual aid agreements, smaller communities can avail not only of more firefighters, but of expensive equipment without each community having to purchase the equipment outright.
“In practical terms, that means a community facing a large structure fire, multiple simultaneous incidents, a shortage of available firefighters, or a situation requiring specialized equipment can quickly draw on a neighbouring department,” said Gushue. “It provides a predetermined command and communication structure, so departments are not trying to set up responsibilities for the first time during an emergency. For a rural community, the main benefit can be summarized simply: each municipality retains its own fire department and local control, while gaining access to a larger regional pool of people, equipment, and emergency-response capacity when it is genuinely needed.”
Mutual aid agreements exist between Avondale, Colliers, Conception Harbour, Harbour Main-Chapels Cove-Lakeview and Holyrood, and were formally announced this past summer during a wildfire preparedness event in Avondale.
“The Conception Bay Central region is lucky to have so many dedicated firefighters, well equipped fire departments, and supportive councils to work together for the benefit of each community,” Gushue said.