What is a mutual aid agreement?

A mutual aid agreement is fundamentally an arrangement between different firefighting agencies to share resources, such as personnel, equipment, and specialized skills, during emergencies that exceed the capacity of a single agency. The purpose of these agreements is to ensure that resources are pooled effectively during large-scale incidents—such as wildfires, major structure fires, or natural disasters—where local capabilities may be overwhelmed.

These agreements allow for a quicker response time by enabling agencies to assist one another without the need for complex arrangements to be made at the time of an emergency. They promote collaboration, enhance response effectiveness, and improve overall community safety by ensuring that adequate resources are available when they are most needed. Thus, the primary focus of a mutual aid agreement is the sharing and cooperative management of firefighting resources to address emergencies effectively.