Our world continues to change, and so must the fire service. During the past several weeks and months, we witnessed tragic civil unrest and the need to implement statewide mutual-aid plans. The good news? Our local and statewide mutual-aid plans worked — and worked well. 

Normally, when a fire department needs to implement the Minnesota State Chiefs Mutual-Aid Plan​, other agencies can help without worry of depleting their own resources. However, during these recent cataclysmic events, agencies across the state became keenly aware that the unrest may impact their communities, and thus they could be tapped for support. 

But a word to the wise: Understand the Minnesota State Chiefs Mutual-Aid Plan before you commit resources. Be certain you have the authority to send resources at 1 a.m.; see if your local mutual aid agreements reflect the current world, and check that your equipment is compatible with not only your neighbors’, but with your neighbors’ neighbors’. In most cases, it might be as simple as a hose coupling or hydrant adaptor your organization dismissed as no longer needed, only to discover that it is exactly what you need to assist another department in the heat of the moment. 

During large-scale responses, incidents may go well beyond subdivision borders. Fortunately, Minnesota sees very few large-scale crises. But when we do, reliance on our neighbors is crucial, and it’s critical that we understand mutual aid agreements and authorization protocols for their implementation. Now is the time to refresh yourself on local and state mutual aid agreements and plans so we can support each other during changing and challenging times.