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County adopts updated Baker County fire mutual aid agreement; commissioners OK chair signature
Summary
Baker County commissioners approved an updated Baker County Fire Mutual Aid Agreement that standardizes assistance among local fire agencies, retains a four-hour default mutual-aid period and establishes supplemental agreements for extended response and cost recovery.
The Baker County Board of Commissioners approved an updated Baker County Fire Mutual Aid Agreement on Thursday and authorized the county chair to sign the agreement after staff said the document aligns local fire response with state and federal mutual-aid standards.
Chief Michael Carlson of Baker City introduced himself to the board; county emergency management staff explained the revisions and the reason for changing the agreement title from "all-hazards" to "fire mutual aid" to better reflect the participating agencies' roles.
Emergency management staff told the board the update does not change the county—default four-hour mutual aid timeline for volunteer departments, but added a supplemental agreement option that allows agencies to negotiate compensation or cost recovery beyond the four-hour period. The supplemental agreements would also cover direct-hire arrangements with the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Bureau of Land Management, staff said.
Commissioners asked whether ambulance services and private ambulance providers are covered; staff said an ambulance mutual-aid agreement is in progress separately and that a few local agencies had pages outstanding in the signatory packet.
The motion to approve the mutual aid agreement and authorize the chair to sign carried by unanimous vote.
