Fire
Marshal Hosts Agencies in Statewide Mutual Aid System
JEFFERSON
CITY, Feb. 7, 2006-Representatives of fire service agencies from around
the state gathered at the Division of Fire Safety’s office in
Jefferson City last Thursday. State Fire Marshal Randy Cole hosted
this meeting of regional and area coordinators of the Statewide Fire
Mutual Aid System.
State
Fire Marshal Cole said the goal of this meeting was to address the
lessons learned during Hurricane Katrina and emphasize the expectations
of the system during any statewide or regional disaster.
“With
continued input and support of the fire services throughout the state,
the system stands ready to mitigate the effects of human caused and
natural disasters,” Cole said. "This system demands a maximum
level of understanding and cooperation by all who use and support
it.”
This
voluntary mutual aid system was first established in late 1990 to
coordinate the response of Missouri’s fire service in case of
a major earthquake. It was during that time that Iben Browning was
predicting a major earthquake would occur along the New Madrid fault
on Dec. 3, 1990. Since that time, the system has been refined to address
an “all-hazard” incident by members of the state’s
fire service.
Statewide
fire mutual aid was used in the spring of 2000 in response to a series
of wildland fires in the Lake of the Ozarks region. These widespread
fires resulted in local resources being stretched to their limit.
Fire departments from across the state responded with equipment and
manpower to assist in extinguishing those fires.
Future
meetings within the state’s nine mutual aid regions are planned
as part of the effort to further refine and enhance the mutual aid
system.