6-13 CAMDEN COUNTY FIRE MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT - Haddon Fire Company No. 1

SOG 6-13 CAMDEN COUNTY FIRE MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT

MUTUAL AID PLAN GUIDELINE

I. Purpose

A. To establish a countywide action plan for interaction of several fire departments and/or agencies to handle large scale or unusual incidents beyond the capabilities of a local jurisdiction.

B. To provide a plan for the movement of apparatus, equipment and human resources to aid the fire service in management and control of emergencies within their jurisdiction.

C. To provide a system for response of management specialists to large-scale incidents to fill staff positions required by the incident.

II. Policy

A. It shall be the policy of the Camden County Fire Coordinator to oversee the development and implementation of the county mutual aid plan. The Coordinator, Deputies and the Incident Support and Assistance Committee of the Camden County Fire Chiefs and Fire Officers Association, will take an active roll in organizing selected Chief Officers and other qualified members of the emergency services into a group of specialists that can be drawn upon when needed.

B. It shall be the policy of the Coordinator to comply with established laws and regulations as they relate to implementing the county mutual aid plan.

C. Each municipal fire department and/or fire district or company shall participate in the plan and develop plans for their communities with oversight from the Coordinator.

III. Definitions

A. Incident Support and Assistance Team (ISAT)

1.A group of highly trained specialists brought into an incident to assist with oversight and staffing of key positions in the incident management function. This group shall be selected by the Camden County Fire Chiefs and Fire Officers Association ISAT committee, based on criteria set by said committee.

2.Members of the Incident Support and Assistance Team (ISAT) shall be selected based on their area of expertise in specific functions, such as planning, water supply, etc.

B. Incident Scribe

1. A person whose sole purpose on scene is to document events and times on paper or computer as they unfold.

C. Incident Videographer

1.A person whose sole purpose on scene is to document the incident as it unfolds by use of a video camera.

D. Incident Photographer

1.A person whose sole purpose on scene is to document the incident as it unfolds by using a still camera.

E. Communications Operators

1.A person or persons assigned to operate various communications equipment at a command post.

F. Structural Firefighters

1.Firefighters qualified to wear an SCBA in a structure under active fire conditions.

IV. Procedure

A. Local Municipality

1.The Chief or Municipal Fire Coordinator shall provide and update on an annual basis a complete inventory of apparatus and equipment to the County Fire Coordinator.

2.The Chief or Municipal Fire Coordinator is responsible for establishing and updating on an annual basis a written Mutual Aid Plan for their municipality.

3.The local plan shall include a hierarchy for at least three (3) alarms in each grid of their jurisdiction, to include Rapid Intervention Crews (R.I.C.) and cover companies.

4.The plan as required by law shall be submitted to the County Fire Coordinator for approval.

5.The plan will also be submitted to Camden County Communications by the County Fire Coordinator for entry into the computer system.

B. County Fire Coordinator

1.Shall maintain an inventory of county fire service resources and submit it to the State Fire Coordinator on an annual basis.

2.Review all plans submitted by the municipalities and make recommendations as needed on an annual basis.

3.Develop and operate the County Mutual Aid Plan to assist the local Fire Chief.

4.Select and supply mutual aid equipment to other counties upon a formal request from other County Fire Coordinators, the State or Deputy State Fire Coordinators.

5.Develop and review the Fire and Rescue Annex of the County Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and review the Fire and Rescue Annex for each of the municipalities within the county.

6.Camden County Communications shall notify the County Fire Coordinator when an incident requires a Second Alarm dispatch.

a.This notification will be to put the Coordinator on notice of an escalating incident. The Coordinator or a deputy may elect to respond.

b.The Coordinator, deputy or both shall respond on any incident that reaches a 3rd alarm dispatch.

7. Upon arrival the Coordinator shall meet with the Incident Commander and determine what if any additional resources may be needed.

a.The Coordinator shall work in concert with the incident commander to insure that enough resources are staged to handle potential needs of the incident.

b.The Coordinator shall work in concert with the incident commander to insure there are adequate cover companies in placed to handle additional responses in that region.

c.On major incidents using significant resources in a given region of the county, the Fire Coordinator will cause the movement of specialized equipment throughout the county to insure adequate fire protection. This may include movement of taskforces and strike teams per established guidelines for movement in or out of the county:

(1)Large Diameter Hose Strike Team; “Pipelines” Page 3

(2)Regional Taskforces

(3)Marine Taskforces and Strike Teams

(4)Foam Taskforces and Strike Teams

(5)Water Tender Strike Teams

(6)Fire Police Strike Teams

d.Incidents involving multiple agencies (not just fire service) may require the implementation of an Incident and Assistance Support Team.

(1)The Fire Coordinator or Deputy Fire Coordinator may make the necessary notifications to implement the ISAT.

(2)The County Mobile Communications Vehicle shall be dispatched to the scene. The County Fire Coordinator shall, as required, notify the state regional fire coordinator of all large-scale incidents involving apparatus from outside of Camden County.

C. Response to a Request for Mutual Aid

1.Units responding that have not been given specific orders shall report to the staging area.

2.If staging area has not been established, responding units will stop short and clear about a block away from the scene until directed otherwise.

3.A staging officer will be established on all large-scale incidents to track both personnel and apparatus.

D. Compensation

1.Fire Departments responding to a request for mutual aid shall not be compensated for manpower, apparatus or any other material goods other than as is provided in the Camden County Fire Service Mutual Aid Agreement.

V. Closing

A. All fire departments in Camden County shall receive a copy of this plan. All Chief Officers shall become familiar with this plan.

B. Any plan previously published that is in conflict with this plan is hereby rescinded.

BETWEEN PARTICIPATING UNITS

THIS AGREEMENT is made between the parties set forth on Schedule A (attached hereto) all of which are either the County of Camden and all of its departments, municipalities including, but not limited to, municipal police, Emergency Medical Service and /or fire departments, volunteer fire companies or EMS organizations or Fire Districts, hereinafter sometimes referred to as “Participating Units”, “Requesting Units” or “Responding Units”.

WHEREAS, the President in Homeland Security Directive (HSPD) – 5, directed the Secretary of the

Department of Homeland Security to develop and administer a National Incident Management System (NIMS), which would provide a consistent nationwide approach to Federal, State, local ‘ and tribal governments to work together more effectively and efficiently to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size or complexity; and

WHEREAS, “The New Jersey Civilian Defense and Disaster Control Act” App.A9 -33 et. seq, provides for the health, safety and welfare of the people of the State of New Jersey during any emergency by centralizing control of all civilian activities having to do with such emergency giving the Governor control over the resources of each and every political subdivision to cope with any condition that shall arise out of such emergency, and

WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey adopted the “Fire Service Resource Emergency Deployment Act,” N.J.S.A. 52:14E-11 et. seq., to establish a mechanism for the coordination of fire service resources throughout the State to facilitate a quick and efficient response to any emergency incident or situation that requires the immediate deployment of those resources in order to protect life and property from the danger or destruction of fire, explosion or other disaster, and

WHEREAS, The Director of the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs

promulgated rules commonly referred to as the “Fire Service Resource Emergency Deployment

Regulations” N.J.A.C. 5:75A et. seq, and N J.A.C. 5:75 A-2.2 specifically requires each municipality or fire district to adopt a local fire mutual aid plan, and

WHEREAS, the Participating Units recognize that entering into an agreement for mutual aid and

assistance with each other to protect against loss, damage or destruction by fire, catastrophe, civil unrest, major emergency or other extraordinary devastation and to address those situations when additional aid and assistance is needed to protect the best interests of the persons and property in each individual jurisdiction.

WITNESSETH:

In consideration of the mutual benefits and covenants contained in this agreement, the Participating Units respectively agree as follows:

1 As defined in the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Section 2(10): the term “local government” means “(A) county, municipality, city, town, township, local public authority, school district, intrastate district, council of governments. regional or interstate government entity, or agency or instrumentality of a local government: an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, or in Alaska a Native village or Alaska Regional Native Corporation; and a rural community, unincorporated town or village, or other public entity.” 6 U.S.C. 101(10)

CAMDEN COUNTY

MUTUAL AID AND ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT

BETWEEN PARTICIPATING UNITS

1. Mutual Aid and Assistance. Upon the request as provided herein, the Participating Units shall

provide mutual aid and assistance to each other. Mutual Aid and Assistance shall include the

following:

a. Rendering of aid and assistance, including pre-established immediate response by one or more Participating Units to an emergency scene under the control and/or jurisdiction of anotherParticipating Unit, said emergency may include but not to be limited to fire, civil unrest, major criminal or emergency events, natural and man -made disaster or catastrophe affecting the environment.

b. Rendering of aid and assistance byone or more Participating Units to another Participating Unit toserve as supplemental reserve protection in the Requesting Unit’s jurisdiction while the Requesting Unit is on an emergency call and/or otherwise current ly unable to address the emergency service needs in its jurisdiction.

c. Participating in training exercises with other participating units, where the purpose of such training exercises is to coordinate and prepare for fire, civil unrest, major emergency, na rural disaster, environmental disaster and/or other emergency situations that are a threat to life or property.

2. Requests for Mutual Aid and Assistance. All requests for mutual aid and assistance shall be through the office of Camden County Communications Center, the Camden County Fire Coordinator, the Camden County EMS Coordinator, Camden County Prosecutor or his designee in accordance with all procedures in effect at the time of the request. The office of Camden County Communications Center shall immediately summon Participating Units to the scene of an emergency in accordance with the pre -established policies and procedures in effect at the time of the request.

a. Each local jurisdiction shall develop a Municipal Mutual Aid Plan to include mut ual aid assistance to the levels they deem acceptable when measured against potential risks. Said information shall be submitted annually to the County Office of Emergency Management for review by the appropriate coordinator prior to the first day of March each year.

i.All Local Fire Mutual Aid Plans shall be in compliance with the New Jersey Fire Service Emergency Deployment Rules N.J.A.C. 5:75A et seq, specifically N.J.A.C. 5:75A -2.2.

ii.The appropriate County Fire, EMS or County Prosecutor will implement the Mutual Aid Plan for jurisdictions/agencies failing to submit plans as required in Section 2.a. above.

3. Tactical Command and Authority at Emergency Scene. The Incident Commander of the Requesting Unit shall have overall command authority of all Participating Units at the scene of the emergency. Participating Units of the fire service shall operate in compliance with the State Incident Management System N.J.A.C. 5:73 -1.6(b).

CAMDEN COUNTY

MUTUAL AID AND ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT

BETWEEN PARTICIPATING UNITS

4. No Charge for Use of Personnel or Equipment.

a. No Participating Unit shall bill a Requesting Unit for wages, salaries or use of equipment in making mutual aid and assistance responses, except as is provided for by a pre –existing separate agreement and/or as permitted within the regulations of the Stafford Disaster and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 -5206 and the implementing regulations of 44 CFR 204 and 206 in which case reimbursements as permitted therein shall be recoverable as provided within said regulations.

b. If fuel, chemical substances, crowd control gases, water additives, sterilized medical equipment or other disposable goods are used for mitigation of the incident by a Responding Unit at a mutual aid and assistance response which will cause the Responding Unit to incur an expenditure to replace the same, and/or portable equipment requires repair or is lost the Requesting Unit shall replace or, upon receipt of an appropriate voucher, reimburse the Responding Unit for the expenditure involved. Said reimbursement or replacement shall not be construed as payment or consideration for making the mutual aid and assistance response but only as an effort to compensate a Responding Unit for its actual cost outlay in replacing these expendable materials.

c. This agreement does not supersede any agreement either formal or informal betweenjurisdictions (e.g. state or federal governments) or between Responding Units (e.g. firedepartments of different municipalities).

d. Participating Units when possible will be reimbursed in accordance with the Spill Compensation Control Act (N.J.A.C. 7:lE-5.3/N.J.S.A. 58:10-23.1 le).

e. This agreement recognizes the provisions as required by New Jersey Civilian Defense & Control Act App.9-33 et seq. and specifically Emergency Medical Services NJ.S.A.26:2K -60.

5. Limitation of Providing Mutual Aid and Assistance. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to require a Participating Unit to make a mutual aid and assistance response if the response will leave the Participating Unit’s jurisdiction without sufficient police, fire, ambulance and/or emergency protection.

6. Death or Disability. If any member of a Participating Unit suffers injury or death at the scene of a mutual aid and assistance emergency or training exercise, the member or the member’s designee or legal representative shall be entitled to all salary, pension rights, worker’s compensation and other benefits to which the member would be entitled if injury or death occurred in the performance of duties within the jurisdiction of the Participating Unit in accordance to N.J.S.A.40A: 14-26. Said rights, benefits and compensation shall be paid by the Participating Unit and not by the Requesting Unit. Each Participating Unit shall be individually responsible for providing adequate benefits, coverage and compensation for its members.

7. Members Authority. The members of each Participating Unit making a mutual aid and assistance response shall have the same powers and authority as the members of a Requesting

CAMDEN COUNTY

MUTUAL AID AND ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT

BETWEEN PARTICIPATING UNITS

Unit at the scene of the emergency in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A: 1 4-156.2. Said members of a

Participating Unit shall also have, while so acting, such rights and immunities as they would otherwise enjoy in the performance of their normal duties within their own jurisdiction.

8. Liability Insurance. Each Participating Unit shall maintain adequate liability insurance, the minimum limits of which shall be $1 million. Additionally, the Requesting Unit agrees to hold harmless a Participating Unit in the event of any lawsuit arising out of such assistance.

9. Term; Withdrawal. This Agreement shall continue indefinitely or until terminated or rescinded by all Participating Units. Any Participating Unit may withdrawal from this Agreement by providing all other Participating Units, the office of Camden County Communications Center, the respective Fire, EMS, County Prosecutor or his designee with sixty (60) days advanced written notice of withdrawal, clearly specifying the applicable date of withdrawal. In the event of withdrawal by any Participating Unit, this Agreement will continue in full force and effect for all remaining Participating Units.

10. Legal Authority. This Agreement for mutual aid and assistance is expressly made in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A: 14-26 and 156.1 et seq.

11. Entire Agreement. This agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the Participating Units. This Agreement supersedes all communications, representations or prior agreements, oral or written, between Participating Units with respect to the subject matter hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, County of Camden and each Municipality, Volunteer Corporation or Fire District representing each Participating Unit has executed this Agreement and affixed its corporate seal on the date and as shown on Schedule A, attached hereto and made a part hereof. By executing this agreement, each Participating Unit acknowledges that said execution has been duly authorized by proper Resolution, a copy of which is annexed to this agreement.

The

has executed this agreement on the (Fire department, Municipally or Corporation)

day of, 20

Authorized Signature: Official Title

CAMDEN COUNTY

MUTUAL AID AND ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT

BETWEEN PARTICIPATING UNITS

Schedule A

______________________________________________

Police Chief

______________________________________________

Fire Chief

______________________________________________

EMS Chief/Captain

______________________________________________

Public Works/MUA Superintendent

CAMDEN COUNTY

MUTUAL AID AND ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT

BETWEEN PARTICIPATING UNITS

SAMPLE – RESOLUTION 2006-

AUTHORIZING MEMBERSHIP IN A MUTUAL AID AND ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT

WITH PARTICIPATING UNITS.

WHEREAS, mutual aid and assistance agreements between municipalities, counties, law enforcement agencies police, Emergency Medical Service, fire departments, fire companies or EMS organizations and fire departments situated in fire districts operated by a Board of Fire Commissioners, are permitted pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A: 14 -26 and 40A: 14-156.1; and

WHEREAS, the President in Homeland Security Directive (HSPD) – 5, directed the Secretary of the

Department of Homeland Security to develop and administer a National Incident Management System (NIMS), which would provide a consistent nationwide approach to Federal, State, local and tribal governments to work together more effectively and efficiently to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size or complexity; and

WHEREAS, The Director of the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs

promulgated rules in accordance with the “Fire Service Resource Emergency Deployment Act,” NJ.A.C. 52:14E-11 et. seq., commonly referred to as the “Fire Service Resource Emergency Deployment Regulations” NJ.A.C. 5:75A et. seq, and

WHEREAS, it is deemed to be in the best interests of the residents of this municipality and/or fire

district to enter into a mutual aid and assistance agreement with the County of Camden and other

municipalities including (but not limited to) municipal police, Emergency Medical Service or fire

departments, volunteer fire companies or EMS organizations and/or fire districts to provide additional protection against loss, damage or destruction by fire, catastrophe, civil unrest, major emergency or other extraordinary devastation damage or destruction to person and property, in those situations when outside aid and assistance is needed.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the ______________________

of theof

County of __________________ , and State of New Jersey as follows:

A. That the ______________ is hereby authorized and directed to enter into the Camden

County Mutual Aid and Assistance Agreement Between Participating Units, a copy of which is attached hereto and made part hereof, on the terms and conditions contained herein.

CAMDEN COUNTY

MUTUAL AID AND ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT

BETWEEN PARTICIPATING UNITS

B. That theand

Of the __________________are hereby authorized and directed to execute said Mutual Aid and Assistance Agreement on behalf of the ________________.

C.That the _________________ is hereby authorized and directed to forthwith forward a copy of this Resolution and an executed copy of Schedule A of the agreement to the offices of the Camden County Office of Emergency Management for review and filing by the appropriate Fire, EMS and County Prosecutor or his designee as appropriate.

In the event of an emergency call 911