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®49~g,. ~~4hp <br />I7 52 <br />1 <br />~,~T!( ~p(ot Ob <br />ORANGE COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES <br />Report to the Board of. County Commissioners <br />Mutual Aid in Orange County <br />North Carolina General Statute 58-83-1 authorizes fire departments and fire <br />districts, both municipal and volunteer; to send personnel and equipment for <br />mutual aid purposes outside the district they normally serve. The fire <br />departments. and firefighters have the same authorities and immunities as <br />afforded in their own district when responding to a call and while working at a fire <br />or other emergency; including worker's compensation coverage. <br />Several mutual aid agreements have been signed by departments in Orange <br />County in past years, the most current is dated October 1994 with an addendum <br />dated December 2005. Both agreements were edited and approved by County <br />Attorney staff prior to department signatures. The 1994 mutual aid agreement <br />defines roles and responsibilities for liabilities, damages to apparatus and/or <br />equipment, injuries, wages and benefits, conduct and actions of personnel. <br />Parties to the agreement(s) have established practices for equipment and <br />personnel response for specific areas, based on life safety considerations, <br />building occupancies, construction, accessibility, water supplies, etc. Specific <br />response for additional equipment andJor personnel have been identified and <br />agreed upon and have been established in writing, reflected in run card and <br />dispatch process documents in the 9-1-1 Communications Center and signed by <br />the fire chief of each department. <br />The 1994 agreement was signed by all departments with tax districts and/or <br />response areas in Orange County. The 2005 addendum was created to enhance <br />fire protection capabilities in the county and meet the minimum requirements for <br />the Response Rating Survey Program administered by the North Carolina <br />Department of Insurance; Office of the State Fire Marshal. This addendum <br />meets the necessary mutual aid requirements to extend insurance districts from <br />five miles to six miles and receive .maximum points in the Methods of Operation <br />Section of the Response Rating Survey. <br />Care • Serve • Survive <br />