Mutual aid agreement settled

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

Wheatland County verbally agreed to sign a mutual aid agreement with Environmental and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD).
The agreement just has to be signed by the county in order for it to be completed that has taken effect June 16 and will run until June 16, 2017.
“The negotiations were very brief,” said Alan Parkin, Wheatland County’s Chief Administrative Officer.
“One of our staff talked with the ESRD counterpart and proposed an agreement and we made a couple of revisions and it was done.”
This will allow county access to more resources in case of a fire emergency within county limits.
The agreement outlined will include administration, which outlines who you should contact at the county in case of that emergency and procedures. Prevention and Detection involves fire and control orders, prescribed burning rules and wildlife as well as urban interface. Presuppression suggests ways for hazard and resource sharing. Wildlife Operations includes provisions of manpower and equipment for mutual aid while training will offer certain opportunities to prepare for emergency situations.
The county will have now have access to equipment such as helicopters, an airtanker group, birddog aircraft and manpower.