The Sandy Springs City Council has approved a fire mutual aid agreement with Atlanta so that one fire department can request the help of the other if an emergency or special event exceeds its resources, skill or equipment capacity.
The fire chiefs of the two cities will establish in writing the level of mutual aid, and the city furnishing aid will determine the equipment and staff it can provide “based on the available personnel and equipment and of local conditions at the time of emergency,” Sandy Springs Fire Chief Keith Sanders said in a memo to the council.
Sandy Springs and Atlanta also would hold joint training exercises “to promote a basic standardizing of operations and philosophy,” as agreed upon by the fire chiefs, Sanders said. Each city would be responsible for its own employees’ compensation, benefits and injuries, and no liability is imposed on either for failure to respond.
The agreement takes effect Dec. 31 and renews annually unless either city provides at least a 90-day notice of termination or intent not to renew.
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