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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chautauqua County………………………………………………………..4

Fire and Emergency Medical Plan………………………………………….4

Mutual Aid Plan……………………………………………………………4

Section I: Objective………………………………………………………..4

Section II: Amendments and Review………………..……………………...4

Section III: Definition………………………………………………………4

Section IV: Participation……………………………………………………5

Section V: Designation of Personnel………………………………………...8

Section VI: Line of Authority………………………………………………..8

Section VII: Status of the Incident Commander……………………………..9

Section VIII: The County Dispatch Center…………………………………10

Section IX: Participation in the State Fire Mobilization and Mutual Aid Plan…11

Section X:  Participation in The Statewide EMS Mobilization Plan………….12

Section XI: Coordination with other Emergency Services………………..…12

Section XII: Training……………………………………………………....12

Section XIII: Chautauqua County Special Teams…………………………..12

Appendix  A……….………………………………………………………13

Appendix  B……………………………………………………………….

Appendix C………………………………………………………………..

September 21, 2005 Version

Chautauqua County

Fire and Emergency Medical Plan

Mutual Aid Plan

Section I: Objective

The purpose of this plan is to outline the means by which mutual aid is organized, supervised, and coordinated; to direct the cooperative and reciprocal assistance of all participating fire departments at fires, emergency medical calls, and other emergencies requiring the services of firefighters, emergency medical technicians and or equipment throughout Chautauqua County and adjacent counties.

         Nothing withstanding in this agreement diminishes any state, federal or local law.

Section II: Amendments and Review

1. Amendments: Amendments to this plan may be made periodically and shall follow this procedure:

1.      Prepared by the County Fire Coordinator

2.      Recommended by the County Fire Advisory Board & EMS Council

3.      Submitted by the Fire Coordinator to the County Executive

4.      Submitted to the State of New York, Dept of State, Office of Fire Prevention and Control for admission into the State Mobilization and Mutual Aid Plan

5.      Submitted to the Regional EMS Council

2. Review: Each year this plan shall be reviewed by the County Fire Coordinator and changes or corrections processed.

Section III: Definition

As used in this plan the term “fire company” and “fire department” shall include all companies, rescue units, ambulances, fire police units, squads or other units of fire departments, fire districts, or fire companies, whether incorporated or not, and shall mean and include any firefighting unit as the same may be defined or described in Section 209(1) of the General Municipal Law. 

Section IV: Participation

       A. Membership into the Plan

1. Minimum requirements for Fire Companies or Fire Departments Entering      the  Chautauqua County Fire and Emergency Medical Mutual Aid Plan.

a.       There shall be a legally organized fire company or fire department with sufficient personnel so that there will be ten (10) members normally available for response to a day or night fire or emergency at any time of the year. The organization and operation of such fire department shall be with the specific approval of the governing body or board having jurisdiction over the area where such department’s equipment is housed.

b.      A responding Fire Department or EMS agency vehicle which consists of a motorized machine properly designed for the requested service, with basic equipment as listed in Appendix A.

c.       There shall be a minimum of three personnel and a maximum of six per unit on a mutual aid request, unless a special request for manpower is placed.  The suitability and fitness of each responder for the job intended is left to his/her own department’s criteria.  Responding personal should meet or exceed their own department’s minimum standards for the tasks likely to be encountered.

d.      If, at anytime, a participant finds it does not have sufficient personnel to be effective, they shall notify the requesting incident commander & County Fire Dispatch immediately of its situation.

e.       There shall be an efficient method for notifying members and giving the location of a fire or other emergency.  All facilities shall participate in the County’s weekly test.

B. Application for membership :

a. Application of Fire Company or Fire Department, EMS Agency, to Enter Plan:

Any duly established fire company or fire department or EMS agency may participate in this plan by filing a copy of a resolution adopted by the fire company or fire department in the office of the County Fire Coordinator.  Such resolution shall state that such company or department elects to participate in the Chautauqua County Fire and Emergency Medical Mutual Aid Plan and will comply with the provisions of such Plan.  The resolution shall state that the  participant will recognize a call for assistance from another participant through the Chautauqua County Dispatch Center.

There shall also be filed with the County Fire Coordinator, a copy of a resolution adopted by the legislative body of each participating village or the Board of Fire Commissioners, or other governing body having jurisdiction over the participant.   Such resolution shall state that no restrictions exist against “outside service” by the  participant of a municipality or a district within the meaning of Section 209(1) of the General Municipal Law which would affect the power of such  participant to participate in the Chautauqua County Fire and Emergency Medical Mutual Aid Plan.

3. Withdrawal from the Plan.

Any  participant may elect to withdraw from this Plan by the adoption of resolutions of both the participant and the governing body.  Such withdrawal shall become effective thirty (30) days after filing of both resolutions in the office of the Chautauqua County Fire Coordinator.

4. Governing Body Withdrawal.

If the outside service activities of a participating agency are restricted pursuant to Section 209 (1) of the General Municipal Law, notice shall be given promptly to the Chautauqua County Fire Coordinator.  Such restriction imposed by a governing body shall constitute a withdrawal from the Plan effective thirty (30) days after such decision by a governing body of a  participant.

5. Withdrawal Restrictions

Any participant withdrawing from this Plan, upon the effective date, shall surrender and return to the County of Chautauqua all county owned equipment.

Withdrawal from this plan will result in suspension of mutual aid, pursuant to this Plan, to the participant taking such action.  Such suspension shall remain in effect until reinstated under Section IV-A of this Plan.

All radio identifiers and call signs issued to such company or department will be cancelled on the effective date of withdrawal.

6. Extent and Limit of Participation by Chautauqua County Fire Departments, Fire Protection Districts and EMS Agencies

All city, town, village, fire districts, and fire protection districts in Chautauqua County may participate in this Plan.

These departments include:

            First Battalion: South Dayton, Cassadaga, Dunkirk, East Dunkirk, West Dunkirk, Forestville, Fredonia, Hanover Center, Irving, Lily Dale, Sheridan, Silver Creek, Stockton, Sunset Bay

            Second Battalion:  Brocton, Chautauqua, Dewittville, Findley Lake, Hartfield, Mayville, Portland, Ripley, South Ripley, Sherman, Westfield

            Third Battalion: Ashville, Busti, Celoron, Clymer, Frewsburg, Jamestown, Kiantone, Lakewood, Panama

7.             Fourth Battalion: Bemus Point, Cherry Creek, Ellery Center, Ellington, Falconer, Fluvanna, Gerry, Kennedy, Maple Springs, Sinclairville..

8. Extent and limit of participating with the counties of Warren and Erie, Pennsylvania. There is no formal agreement with these counties except as follows:

1.      Fire departments or fire companies or EMS Agencies of Warren and Erie Counties, Pennsylvania may elect to participate in this Plan by filing in each case a copy of a resolution as described in Subdivision A of this section.  Such participation shall become effective upon approval of the action of each fire company by the Chautauqua County Fire Advisory Board and EMS Council. These departments include Third Battalion, Sugar Grove.

2.      Any other local reciprocal assistance shall be in accordance with Section 209 (1) of the General Municipal as amended.  All requests for assistance will be routed through the Chautauqua County Dispatch Center.

8. Extent and Limit of Participation with Adjacent Counties.

Mutual aid is provided and received from Cattaraugus and Erie Counties, New York through their respective County Dispatch Centers and under the direction of their County Fire Coordinators, Commissioner of Emergency Services, or legally appointed deputies.

9. Coordination and informal agreements may exist with other agencies which may have  a function in certain emergency operations. Such agencies may include, but not be limited to; police, hazmat, technical rescue, utilities, Red Cross, Salvation Army, WET Team, Fire Police Response Team, Races, construction companies, etc.

Section V: Designation of Personnel

1. County Fire Coordinator as chief Fire Officer at the county level for the fire service:
   1. Administers this County Fire and Emergency Medical Mutual Aid Plan and is responsible for the efficient operation of the plan for intra- and inter-county purposes at fires or where the services of participants are used.
   2. Responds to mutual aid alarms and drills to observe and aid, if needed.

2. Deputy County Coordinators:
   1. Shall assume the duties of the Fire Coordinator in his absence.
   2. Shall respond to an emergency:

1.      Where five departments or more are at the scene or on standby for any given emergency.

2.      At the request of the Battalion Coordinator or Incident Commander.

                   c.   Responds to Mutual aid alarms and drills to observe and aid if needed

3. Deputy Fire Coordinators- Battalion:
   1. Represents the County Fire Coordinator at the fire or other incident requiring the services of firefighters.
   2. Responds when

1.      Three or more agencies are activated for any given emergency

2.      Two or more fire departments are inter-county or inter-state mutual aid.

3.      Requested to do so by local incident commander

3. Acts as liaison to other responding agencies and resources

4.  Deputy County Coordinator for Emergency Medical Service:
   1. Coordinates activities of  Emergency Medical Services
   2. Responds to incidents involving rescue and ambulance units.
   3. Will serve as the county point of contact for the State Bureau of EMS for mobilization of County EMS resources
   4. Responds to mutual aid alarms and drills to observe and aid if needed
   5. Ensures adequate EMS coverage during large scale incidents

Section VI: Line of Authority

A.    Absence of the County Fire Coordinator

The County Fire Coordinator shall designate a Deputy Fire Coordinator to possess the power and perform the duties of the County Fire Coordinator during his absence or inability to act, pursuant to Section 401 of the County Law.

B.     Vacancy in the position of county Fire Coordinator

The County Executive shall designate a Deputy County Fire Coordinator, who shall possess the power and perform the duties of County Fire Coordinator until the County Executive, pursuant to Section 401 of the County Law, appoints a successor.

Section VII: Status of the Incident Commander

1. Command Structure

1.      The Chain of command at the fire or other emergency in which the services of fire fighters and emergency medical technicians would be used under this mutual aid plan remains with the department requesting such aid.

2.  Scene Management : The Governor’s executive Order Number 26 issued March 5, 1996 established the Incident Command System (ICS). It  states that ICS shall be used in New York State , “ as the standard command and control system during emergency operations.”

In Chautauqua County, emergency operations under this plan will be conducted using the ICS within the framework of the National Incident Management System ( NIMS). See the Chautauqua County ICS Manual here with attached as Appendix     

2. Authority of Incident Commander

An Incident Commander requests mutual aid in accordance with this Plan.  This request shall designate the type of equipment desired at the emergency scene or for  stand-by basis.

The requests shall normally follow the predetermined run cards.

3. All requests for mutual aid shall be routed through the County Dispatch Center

4. The requesting department, the requested department and County Dispatch Center shall treat any request for mutual aid as any call for assistance from the public.

5. Each participant, as in State law Section 209, shall be responsible for their own members in regards to fitness and suitability for the requested duty.  Each participant shall also be responsible for its own members’ injuries and liabilities.  Also, as in State Law Section 209, the requesting participant is responsible for the equipment and vehicles so requested, from the time they leave their own station/property until they return to said station/property after being released from duty.

6. Automatic mutual aid of EMTs will be consistent with the automatic Mutual Aid of EMT’s policy as adopted by the Chautauqua County Fire Advisory Board and EMS Council. Policy is herewith attached as Appendix      

7. Mass Casualty Incidents will be managed consistent with the Field Manual for Mass Casualty management issued by the NYS dept of Health Bureau of EMS. The Field Manual is herewith attached a s Appendix             

8. Responding departments will respond with only the equipment and manpower requested. 

9. All apparatus and equipment covered by this plan shall be equipped with standard hose threads as defined by National Bureau of Standards  or adaptors to national standard threads shall be made available. Quarter turn couplings may be utilized if adaptors to threaded couplings are available if needed.

10. Other agencies and resources shall  be responsible for their own personnel and equipment.

VIII: The County Dispatch Center

1. Location: KEB-909

    Chautauqua County Dispatch Center

2. Supervision and Dispatching Services
   1. The County Fire Coordinator is responsible for all activities of the Chautauqua County Dispatch Center and is authorized to dispatch.
   2. The County Fire Coordinator and all Deputy Fire Coordinators are authorized to dispatch in accordance with this Plan.
   3. The Fire Coordinator and County Sheriff may jointly approve dispatchers.
   4. Restrictions: No person may operate radio equipment at the County Dispatch Center who is not specifically authorized in Sections a, b, and c above.
   5. All radio procedures shall conform to those prescribed in the current version  “Chautauqua County Radio Procedure” manual.

3. Radio Identifiers.

All radio identifiers must be approved and assigned by the County Fire Coordinator in accordance with accepted equipment radio designators. These assigned identifiers shall be used at all times on mutual aid calls. Operation with out identifier authorized by the licensee is a violation of the rules of the Federal Communications   Commission.

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4. Communications with County Fire Control Centers of adjacent Counties

Radio and Telephone communication with County Fire Control Centers of adjacent counties shall be listed.  The list shall be posted at the Chautauqua County Dispatch Center and all alternate County Dispatch centers for use with this Plan.  County Dispatch shall follow the protocols and procedures for mutual aid dispatch as approved by the Fire Advisory Board.

Section IX:.

: Participation in the State Fire Mobilization and Mutual Aid Plan

1. Procedure to obtain Activation of the Plan

The County Fire Coordinator or Deputy in line of authority pursuant to Section 401 of County Law, after utilizing all available assistance from adjacent counties, may call for activation of the State Plan.

The procedure shall conform with that specified by the State of New York, Department of State, Office of Fire Prevention and Control.

2. Authority and Responsibility of the Regional Fire Administrator

The State of New York, Department of State, Office of Fire Prevention and Control establish the authority and responsibility of the Regional Fire Administrator under the State Fire Mobilization and Mutual Aid Plan.

3. Retirement of the Regional Fire Administrator

Should the County Fire Coordinator be separated from his office for any reason he is automatically retired as Regional Fire Administrator if he holds such position.  The State Fire Administrator of the Office of Fire Prevention and Control is authorized to appoint this position

4. County number issued by the State

The County Fire Coordinator shall utilize the number “7” assigned to Chautauqua County.

                        Section X. Participation in the Statewide EMS Mobilization Plan

Participation in the statewide EMS Mobilization Plan will be described in the Statewide EMS  Mobilization Plan Memorandum issued by NYDOH. See Appendix         

Section XI: Coordinating with Other Emergency services

Informal agreements exist, and contact numbers are listed at the County Dispatch Center and alternate centers for coordination with police, emergency management and civil defense, highways, utilities and other agencies.

Section XII: Training

The program of training developed by the Office of Fire Prevention and Control and /or the NYSDOH BEMS  shall be the standard throughout the County of Chautauqua.  In addition the County may provide other courses as they are developed.  All departments involved in this Mutual Aid agreement shall participate in a minimum of two mutual aid drills per year. It shall be the responding participant’s responsibility to ensure the apparatus and the personnel are suitable for the requested task.

Section XIII: Chautauqua Special Teams

The County Fire Coordinator shall supervise the organization and operation of Specialized Emergency Response Teams including but not limited to Hazardous Materials Response Team, Water Emergency Team, Technical Rescue Team, and a Fire Police Response Team, Fire Investigation, and Critical Incident Stress Management team ( CISM).  These teams’ functions shall be to assist local departments with incidents that require specialized training and/or knowledge.  These teams will work closely with other response and regulatory agencies to resolve emergencies.  These teams shall be considered as available resources to participating members of this mutual aid plan.

Appendix A

Each vehicle shall be a fire department unit and shall fit the description and carry the equipment as such units are required to conform with the classification outlined in the CAD system in the Chautauqua County Dispatch Center. All apparatus shall respond utilizing the County issued identifier for that unit.  (See the list published by the Fire Coordinator

 FOR A PRINTABLE COPY CALL OR E-MAIL THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND ONE WILL BE PROVIDED TO YOU.