HomeMy WebLinkAbout12 - Automatic Aid Agreement for Fire, Rescue & Emergency Medical ServicesDecember 11, 2001
Council Agenda
Item No. 12
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Timothy Riley, Fire Chief
SUBJECT: Automatic Aid Agreement for Fire, Rescue and Emergency Medical Services
between the City of Newport Beach and the City of Laguna Beach
Recommendation:
The City Council approve the Automatic Aid Agreement for Fire, Rescue and Emergency
Medical Services between the City of Newport Beach and the City of Laguna Beach and
authorize the Mayor to execute the agreement.
Background:
For more than forty years, Orange County fire departments have been sharing resources across
jurisdictional boundaries to ensure prompt emergency service to our border constituents. This has
been accomplished through the use of automatic aid, mutual aid and assistance for hire
agreements.
Automatic aid agreements are those that provide for the sharing of pre - selected resources from
one jurisdiction into another, as programmed into our respective computer aided dispatch
computers. This occurs automatically, without any further review or request. An example of
automatic aid is the automatic dispatch of our temporary fire station resources into Santa Ana
Heights. The City Council recently approved an updated automatic aid agreement between the
City and the Orange County Fire Authority. We do not have an agreement between the City and
the City of Laguna Beach.
Mutual aid agreements are the reciprocal sharing of like resources on an as- needed, as- requested,
as- approved basis. One agency makes the request of another agency, which reviews each request
before approving or disapproving said request. A great example of that is the huge number of
mutual aid units that responded into Laguna Beach during their 1993 fire storms event. We have
been a member of the State of California Master Mutual Aid Agreement for many years.
Assistance by hire is when one agency agrees to pay another agency for the use of a specified
resource. An example of this is when a jurisdiction uses aircraft for fighting fires; they pay for
the time used at the pre- agreed rate.
In anticipation of the annexation of Newport Coast, the attached agreement has been prepared for
your consideration. In general, the agreement acknowledges the mutual benefit of cross -
jurisdictional assistance as the policy of each party to the agreement and authorizes the Fire
Chief from each jurisdiction to establish the specific level of assistance through the use of a
Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU). A copy of the MOU is attached as reference. This is
consistent with the recent agreement between the City and the Orange County Fire Authority.
AUTOMATIC AID
AGREEMENT FOR EXCHANGE OF
FIRE, RESCUE, AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
between
the CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH and the CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 15t day of, January 2002 by and
between the CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, a municipal corporation in the County of
Orange, hereinafter referred to as "LAGUNA BEACH" and the CITY OF NEWPORT
BEACH, a municipal corporation in the County of Orange, hereinafter referred to as
"NEWPORT BEACH"
WHEREAS, LAGUNA BEACH and NEWPORT BEACH provide fire, rescue and
emergency medical services within their respective jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, LAGUNA BEACH and NEWPORT BEACH have found it to be of mutual
benefit if the services of each fire department are in some circumstances extended outside of the
limits of each jurisdiction into the boundaries of the other; and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to enter into a mutual response pact, wherein, in
some circumstances, one party will respond to a fire, rescue or emergency medical incident
occurring within the jurisdictional limits of the other party;
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the covenants contained herein, the
parties hereby agree as follows:
1. This Agreement is a guide for day -to -day operations. It is not intended to replace or
revise the Orange County Fire Services Operational Area Mutual Aid Plan. The specific details
of the service to be provided under this Agreement and the general operational policies,
including, but not limited to, response areas and types of equipment, operational command,
incident reports, dispatch and communications, training, and response maps and preplans, and
evaluation of effectiveness shall be determined by the LAGUNA BEACH Fire Chief and the
NEWPORT BEACH Fire Chief in a Memorandum of Understanding ( "MOU "). Operational
components of the MOU may be amended by the mutual written agreement of the LAGUNA
BEACH Fire Chief and the NEWPORT BEACH Fire Chief. Any change in the MOU which
constitutes a change in policy shall be approved by the Governing Body of LAGUNA BEACH
and the Governing Body of NEWPORT BEACH.
2. Each party shall, at its own expense, develop and provide for the necessary cross
connections of its communication system with the communication system of the other.
3. Each party shall, at its own expense, provide to the other party a predetermined grid
mapping system designating the response area for its areas included in this Agreement.
4. Responsibility for responding to requests for ambulance service shall continue to rest
with the fire agency of the jurisdiction in which the emergency occurs.
5. The services provided by each party pursuant to this Agreement shall be provided at no
cost to the other party. In the event an emergency is declared, this Agreement shall not constitute
a waiver of the rights of the respective parties to claim state and/or federal reimbursement.
6. The LAGUNA BEACH Fire Chief and NEWPORT BEACH Fire Chief or their
designated representatives shall determine and agree upon the capabilities of each party to
respond to incidents requiring special equipment.
7. The parties understand and agree that the responding party's response to a request for
aid shall depend upon any existing emergency conditions within its own jurisdiction and the
availability of its resources.
8. For purposes of liaison and the administration of this agreement, the LAGUNA
BEACH Fire Chief and the NEWPORT BEACH Fire Chief are designated as the representatives
of the respective parties to this Agreement, and they shall be jointly responsible for
administration of this Agreement.
9. This Agreement shall become operational and effective upon execution by both parties.
The Agreement shall remain in effect until termination by either party. It is further agreed that
either party may terminate the Agreement at any time by giving written notice to the other party
at least sixty days (60) prior to the date of termination.
10. The parties agree that the provisions of this Agreement are not intended to directly
benefit, and shall not be enforceable by any person or entity not a party to this Agreement. By
entering into this Agreement, neither party waives any of the immunities provided under state or
federal law.
11. Notwithstanding the provisions of Government Code 895.2, each party shall defend,
indemnify, and hold harmless the other party and its officers, agents, employees and
representatives from any and all losses, liability, damages, claims, suits, actions and
administrative proceedings, and demands and all expenditures and cost relating to acts or
omissions of the indemnitor, its officers, agents or employees arising out of or incidental to the
performance of any of the provisions of this Agreement. Neither party assumes liability for the
omissions of the indemnitor, its officers, agents or employees arising out of or incidental to the
performance of any of the provisions of this Agreement. Neither party assumes liability for the
acts or omissions of persons other than each party's respective officers, agents or employees.
By entering this Agreement, neither party waives any of the immunities provided by the
Government Code or other applicable provisions of law. This Agreement is not intended to
confer any legal rights or benefits on any person or entity other than the parties of this
Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the day and year
first above written.
CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH
Lo
Paul Freeman, Mayor
Verna Rollinger, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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Philip Cohn, City Attorney
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
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Mayor
LaVonne Harkless, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
BY:
Robert H. Burnham, City Attorney
Dated:
Dated:
Dated:
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
FOR EXCHANGE OF
FIRE, RESCUE, AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
between the
CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH and the CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
This Memorandum of Understanding ( "MOU ") is authorized by the City of Laguna Beach Fire
Chief and the City of Newport Beach Fire Chief in an Agreement for Exchange of Fire, Rescue
and Emergency Medical Services dated January 1, 2001, and is subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in said Agreement.
The purpose of this MOU is to outline the procedures for implementing the Agreement between
the City of Laguna Beach, hereinafter referred to as " LAGUNA BEACH" and the City of
Newport Beach, hereinafter referred to as "NEWPORT BEACH ". This MOU is a guide for day -
to -day operations. It is not intended to replace or revise the Orange County Fire Services
Operational Area Mutual Aid Plan. This MOU replaces any existing MOU in effect between
LAGUNA BEACH and NEWPORT BEACH.
AMOUNT AND TYPE OF ASSISTANCE
This MOU is for the exchange of fire, rescue and emergency medical services to the areas
specified. The identified fire department resources will respond to emergencies as set forth
below. For the purposes of this MOU, the following definitions will apply to identified
resources:
BATTALION CHIEF: refers to an officer capable of and responsible for commanding
incident resources and overall scene management.
ENGINE: refers to a fire department resource meeting the equipment
standards of a FIRESCOPE ICS Type 1 Engine with a minimum
staffing of 3 personnel.
PARAMEDIC: refers to a fire department resource providing advanced life support
services in compliance with Orange County EMS Agency policy
and procedure #090.00 definitions for "advanced life support";
"advanced life support unit"; and "emergency medical technician/
paramedic ".
TRUCK: refers to a fire department resource capable of providing a
minimum elevated stream and rescue capability of not less than 50,
feet and a minimum staffing of 3 personnel.
Additional resources not described in this MOU may be requested by the Incident Commander or
appropriate dispatch center through normal Mutual Aid channels as outlined in the Orange
County Fire Services Operational Area Mutual Aid Plan.
RESPONSE AREAS
1. LAGUNA BEACH SHALL PROVIDE:
In accordance with dispatch procedures, up to two ENGINES, one BATTALION CHIEF,
and one PARAMEDIC from LAGUNA BEACH stations to districts within NEWPORT
BEACH'S jurisdiction where LAGUNA BEACH resources are closer.
LAGUNA BEACH shall also provide one FIRESCOPE ICS Type 3 Engine with a
minimum staffing of 3 personnel into areas of NEWPORT BEACH, illustrated in
Attachment B, on each instance of a vegetation fire.
See Attachment A for response areas.
2. NEWPORT BEACH SHALL PROVIDE:
In accordance with dispatch procedures, up to two ENGINES, one BATTALION CHIEF,
one TRUCK, and one PARAMEDIC from NEWPORT BEACH Stations to districts
within LAGUNA BEACH's jurisdiction where NEWPORT BEACH resources are closer.
See Attachment B for response areas.
Changes in this written MOU may be made at any time by mutual written agreement of the
LAGUNA BEACH Fire Chief and the NEWPORT BEACH Fire Chief. A signed amendment to
this document will be prepared accordingly and distributed to all holders.
OPERATIONAL COMMAND
The first arriving officer will assume command until he or she reassigns command or is relieved
by a chief officer. The highest - ranking officer from the authority having jurisdiction will have
the ultimate authority to assume command. All operations will be conducted in a coordinated and
organized manner.
INCIDENT REPORTS
When units of both agencies have responded to an incident, the unit of the agency having
jurisdiction will be responsible for preparing the incident report. When no units from the
jurisdictional agency respond to an incident, the units from the responding jurisdiction shall
prepare their own incident report and the responding agency shall provide copies of the incident
report to the jurisdictional agency.
DISPATCH AND COMMUNICATIONS
Request for services will follow the guidelines noted below:
a) Contact shall be made to the dispatch center through pre - established communication links
requesting a resource by fire station and unit type identified in this Agreement.
b) All necessary information including address, type of emergency, tactical radio frequency
and related information that is available shall be relayed to responding units and updated
as appropriate.
C) The agency receiving the request shall dispatch the requested resource, if available, and
shall provide the responding units with all pertinent information, identifying the
jurisdictional dispatch center and tactical radio frequency.
d) If the requested type of unit is not in the station requested and located so as to result in an
extended response time, the requesting agency's dispatch center will be advised of the
delay to ensure that the closest unit will respond.
e) If the requested unit encounters delays resulting from seasonal, traffic, or other
restrictions, so as to result in an extended response time, the requesting agency's dispatch
center will be immediately advised of the delay.
TRAINING
Periodic interagency training shall be conducted for the purpose of improving working
relationships and operational coordination between LAGUNA BEACH and NEWPORT BEACH
units. This training shall be coordinated through the LAGUNA BEACH Training Chief and the
NEWPORT BEACH Training Chief.
RESPONSE MAPS AND PREPLANS
Upon execution of this MOU, each agency shall provide the other with current standard response
maps and shall provide updated versions as changes occur.
EVALUATION
The effectiveness of the procedures contained in this MOU shall be evaluated annually, or as
significant changes occur, by the LAGUNA BEACH Operations Chief and the NEWPORT
BEACH Operations Chief.
LAGUNA BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT
BY:
Fire Chief
City of Laguna Beach
Date:
NEWPORT BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT
M
Date:
Fire Chief
City of Newport Beach