Cooperative Agreements
Cooperative Efforts
In a State as large and populated as California, no one emergency response agency can do it all. That is why cooperative efforts via contracts and agreements between state, federal and local agencies are essential in response to emergencies such as wildland fires, structure fires, floods, earthquakes, hazardous material spills, and medical aids.
The Aromas Tri-County Fire Protection District participates actively in Automatic Aid Agreements (the closest engine responds regardless of jurisdiction) with the surrounding agencies such as Pajaro Valley Fire Protection District, North Monterey County Fire Protection District and the San Juan Bautista / Hollister Fire Department.
The Aromas Tri-County Fire Protection District is an active participant in the Monterey County, San Benito County and Santa Cruz County Mutual Aid Plans as well as the State of California Master Mutual Aid Plan. This mutual aid may be used on an initial attack basis but is also designed to support extended attack or complex incidents over longer periods on disasters occurring locally or throughout California. By pooling the resources of a county or area, pre-established mutual aid responses, including task forces and strike teams, can be developed to meet the needs of any disaster.
In 1993, the Aromas Tri-County Fire Protection District entered a contract for cooperative fire protection with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). CAL FIRE is the largest multi-purpose emergency service and resource protection agency within the United States, responding to over 300,000 calls for service annually. The San Benito-Monterey Unit of CAL FIRE covers 2.1 million acres of state responsibility land and approximately 0.7 million acres of federal, state, and local government land, some of which are protected by CAL FIRE under contracts, or under agreements with federal agencies.
The contract between CAL FIRE and the Aromas Tri-County Fire Protection District has been mutually beneficial in numerous ways. Every year since and for years to come, CAL FIRE and the Aromas Tri-County Fire Protection District will continue to benefit from each other providing the highest level of full-service fire and life safety protection while maintaining fiscal responsibility both locally and statewide.