DCFR MABAS

Training Dates set for Dane County MABAS 115
MADISON -- MABAS Division 115 (Dane County) has set up training dates through September and October at area fire departments through out the county. Training officers are encouraged to attend one of the dates and members of departments are also welcome to come.

MABAS will be the official program in Dane County on how to call for mutual aid or additional alarms, by January 2009. The system is set up to accommodate departments with a more uniform way of receiving mutual aid.

DCFR will be posting more once all is set in stone, please feel free to email us if you have any question. We’ll try to answer it as best as we can or forward your email to the experts.

	Click here too see training dates
	Click here to see training locations

Recent Article in the Wisconsin State Journal

County fire departments consider aid to other areas

DCFR recently sent an email to Rick Hammond, Lieutenant with the McFarland Fire Department. He also deals with MABAS issues at the Communications Center. We asked Rick several questions on MABAS and here are some of the questions that he answered for DCFR. DCFR hopes that this will help departments know what is coming in the future for Dane County Fire Departments.

What is MABAS-

Mutual Aid Box Alarm System. MABAS is both and intra-state and inter-state mutual aid organization for Fire and EMS agencies. It includes over 1,600 departments in 5 states (Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri).

Who is behind MABAS starting in Dane County-

The Dane County Fire Chiefs Association and the Dane County EMS Association are jointly forming the Dane County MABAS Division.

What does MABAS do-

MABAS provides for a vast amount of resources when a community is in need. Every community that is a member of MABAS has signed the same contract, eliminating potential legal hassles or misunderstandings. This is the same as many other mutual aid organizations with the following two exceptions: MABAS is much, much larger and can over more assistance; and is recognized by the State of Wisconsin as the intrastate fire/EMS mutual aid agreement for Wisconsin.

What will it do to our current situation-

Dane County is still in the process of forming the division. It is hoped we’ll launch our division officially by the end of 2007.

When did MABAS start-

MABAS started in the late 1960’s in the Chicago suburbs.

When does it start in DC-

Hopefully by the end of this year.

How does it work-

Once a community has joined MABAS, it pre-plans its alarm levels taking into account needed resources, personnel, water supply, and a number of other factors that dictate the number and type of resources and personnel needed to mitigate a fire or other disaster. Each alarm level can be requested by the Incident Commander through the MABAS Division Dispatch Center.

Why did DC decided to go to MABAS-

Dane County decided to join the MABAS division as a way to expand upon available resources during a disaster (the Watertown Tire Fire and Stoughton Tornado showed the need for this). MABAS is also the way to participate in the statewide mutual aid program for Wisconsin, and also meets NIMS requirements for a mutual aid agreement.

If anyone has questions about the up coming MABAS program, send Rick an email at rickhammond@verizon.net, he would be glad to answer any question that you may have. Or contact us at webmaster@danecountyfirereport.com and we'll make sure the information you're looking for gets answered.

Additional information is available at:

www.mabaswisconsin.org

www.mabasradio.org

www.mabas.org

Any comments or questions, please email us at webmaster@danecountyfirereport.com

Saturday, August 16, 2008