Under Chapter 48, Section 59A of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts – a fire department from one community is allowed to work within the jurisdiction of another for rendering aid. Under executive order from the Governor in the Acts of 1950 – Chapter 639 individual fire districts were created. Within each fire district is a “Control Point” that coordinates the mutual-aid activity for its district. Norfolk County Control is the mutual-aid control point for Fire District 4, located at the Holbrook Fire Department, coordinating mutual-aid responses from one community to another; which includes 29 individual fire departments, as well as private ambulance companies. The primary mission for the mutual-aid center is as follows:
- Provide coordination for all fire and EMS incidents within the County.
- Facilitate the interoperable radio communications network with base station, mobile and portable radio communications, as well as the Mobile Communications Unit that responds automatically to all multiple alarm fires.
- Assist local departments with outside resources such as state and federal agencies.
- Coordination of specialty services, such as the Technical Rescue Team, Dive Team and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (C.I.S.D.)
- Maintain daily contact with surrounding mutual-aid centers, such as Bristol County Control, Metro Fire and Plymouth County Control, as well as the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Headquarters in Framingham (MEMA).
- Remain updated on policies and procedures for the Department of Fire Services for Haz/Mat incidents and Statewide Mobilization Plan.
Each fire department in the district submits a plan or “run card” and each run card is specifically designed by each town to meet their needs for fire, EMS and specialty incidents. Some run cards submitted divide the community into districts for specific response from the closest city or town. The coordination of outside departments through the Norfolk County Control is mostly effective as it enables the local fire dispatcher to remain available to handle additional local incidents and not become tied up looking for assistance. the concept of mutual-aid is common among fire services nationwide, and helps deal with simple single EMS incidents to large scale incidents requiring the response of multiple departments referred to as strike teams and task forces. No individual organization, regardless of size can effectively and sufficiently handle all the challenges it may face.
With events such as Sept. 11 and several local major incidents requiring the assistance of several departments, the role and demand on the individual mutual-aid centers has never been greater. Norfolk County Control works closely with the Norfolk County Fire Chiefs Association and the Department of Fire Services for all issues regarding operation of the system. And through this relationship, the department was able to receive Homeland Security Funding to upgrade the fire mutual-aid radio network.
Norfolk County Control also dispatches Abington Fire, Canton Fire, Holbrook Fire & Police, Rockland Fire & Police, Sharon Fire, Whitman Fire and District 1,2 3 & 6 State Hazmat.
NORFOLK COUNTY / FIRE DISTRICT 4 TOWNS
(* denotes Metro Fire Community)
| Avon Bellingham Braintree * Brookline * Canton Cohasset Dedham * Dover Easton Foxborough |
Franklin Holbrook Mansfield Medfield Medway Millis Milton * Needham * Norfolk Norwood |
Plainville Quincy * Randolph * Sharon Stoughton Walpole Wellesley * Westwood Weymouth * Wrentham |
SIMULCAST RADIO SITES:
| Abington Blue Hill Brockton Canton Foxborough Franklin Hanson Hingham Holbrook Mansfield |
Milton Norfolk Quincy Rockland Sharon Stoughton Westwood Weymouth Wrentham |