Highlands East is making sure the fire department is available to help the other departments.
Although all four of the fire departments have been part of the mutual aid agreement, the Municipality of Highlands East has accepted the revisions made to the agreement.
Acting Fire Chief Chris Braughman addressed the changes with the municipal council, and he explained that the biggest changes are in the wording of different things. Braughman pointed out that the reason it was brought forward to council was that any time changes are made, they are required to get council approval.
Braughman used the recent fire at the hydro substation, in Minden last summer as an example of the importance of having a Mutual Aid Agreement. During the blaze that lasted several hours, all four departments responded to the call.
According to Chief Braughman “The Mutual Aid plan sets out assignments for extra resources in a major emergency. This could be tanker trucks for water shuttle or manpower for a long duration emergency. It also allows and ensures that during a major emergency that coverage is maintained through the rest of the County. Mutual Aid is provided at no cost to a Municipality on a reciprocal basis.”