TITLE
The Mayor and City Council shall discuss and take action on approving an Intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. Discussion and Action.
AGENDA ITEM DESCRIPTION
The Maricopa Fire & Medical Department (MFMD) participates in the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management’s Wildland Fire and All-Hazard Incident Response Program under a Cooperative Fire Rate Agreement (FM104) with the State Forester. The current agreement, AZ-MAR-2024-02, is valid from April 1, 2024, through March 31, 2029.
This program reimburses the Department at hourly rates for equipment use, personnel salary costs for employees deployed on resource orders, and partial backfill costs for covering shifts while employees are deployed. Participation ensures that no local taxpayer funds are used for salaries or equipment costs related to these deployments. The State Forester may update the agreement periodically, and such updates will automatically apply to this Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA).
BACKGROUND
Since 2009, MFMD has deployed personnel and equipment across Arizona and the United States to assist in managing major wildfires and all-risk incidents, including floods, hurricanes, and other natural or man-made disasters. Deployments occur either through federal resource orders or through requests made under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) between states.
During periods of staffing challenges, such as the summer of 2017 when there were numerous long term injuries reducing staffing levels, the Department paused deployment activity to prioritize City coverage, demonstrating a clear, disciplined approach to balancing local and national obligations. City coverage is, and will always be, the top priority of the fire department.
PROGRAM BENEFITS
Training, Specialization, and National Qualification:
Participation in the Wildland and All-Hazard Incident Response Program requires all firefighters to opera...
Click here for full text