New Agreement Bolsters Fire Response In Putnam And Cumberland Counties

A new Automatic Aid Agreement will provide more systematic help in the case of fire at the Putnam/Cumberland County line.

Putnam County Fire Chief Tom Brown said the agreement allows both departments to double their manpower when they respond to structure fires. The agreement will provide assistance to Cumberland Cove, Glade Creek, and other areas near the county line.

“We’ve got a large area where Cumberland County and Putnam County overlap where both agencies are short-handed, and it’s a great distance from stations in both counties,” Brown said.

Brown said the counties have had a Mutual Aid Agreement for many years, but making the agreement automatic makes it a more reliable system. Brown said both departments have always been willing to assist anyone who calls, so crossing the border on all structure fires will not be a big change.

“We’ve all always helped each other,” Brown said. “Anybody that calls, we try to help them.”

Brown said the extra units are not the only helpful resource provided by this agreement. Both departments rely on each other to provide extra equipment and water when fighting a fire far away from their main station. Brown said while structure fires are automatic, the departments can still call for aid on other fires and emergencies when needed.

“Jim Garrett Corridor, the Dripping Springs Corridor, Cumberland Lakes, those areas that are real close to the county line, both agencies will respond,” Brown said.

The agreement states that both agencies will go through quarterly Automatic Aid drills together, teaching recruits how to work alongside units from the other department. The agreement provides a Rapid Intervention Team, a Safety Officer, and at least 12 units for any single-family structure fires.