Mutual Fire Agreement
Groveland, CA — The Tuolumne County Supervisors have approved a mutual aid agreement designed to improve fire protection in the south county and portions of Mariposa County.
The mutual aid agreement is between the Groveland Community Services District, Tuolumne County and Mariposa County. Tuolumne County’s recent Fire and First Responders Study found that one of the largest gaps in fire coverage is the area between Groveland, Don Pedro and Yosemite National Park.
The basic premise of the Mutual Aid Agreement is that the closest resource, regardless of jurisdiction, be used whenever practical. This applies to structure fires, medical aids, vehicle fires and traffic accidents.
“This is really huge,” stated Supervisor John Gray, whose District Four covers the south county. “This is kind of like the beginning of what I think we’ll see with all the districts.”
The agreement was worked out following discussions with Tuolumne County Assistant Fire Chief Paul Speer, GCSD Fire Chief Shane Warner and Mariposa County Fire Chief Jim Wilson.
The agreement is designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of fire services. The Tuolumne County Supervisors voted 5-0 in favor. The contract is for five years. It can also be terminated by any of the parties with a 30 day notice. It was noted that homeowners in those areas may see a reduction in insurance rates because of the closer access to fire services. Costs to fight the fire will be paid for by the jurisidiction in which the incident is located.
