While the cities are less than 10 miles apart, Henderson and Evansville fire departments don't have a formal agreement to help the other out if needed.
To bridge the gap, the Henderson Fire Department is pushing for a formalized mutual aid agreement that legitimizes help between departments.
The Evansville City Council will vote on the proposal on June 13.
Evansville Fire Chief Mike Connelly said the relationship will be similar to city's agreement with the area volunteer departments.
"It's not big brother lording over little brother," Connelly said. "This is being each other's keeper. This is being good neighbors and helping each other out in a time of need."
Henderson Fire Chief Scott Foreman said it's a move that makes sense.
"It's a win-win. It's a pool of resources that you can draw from that are not your own," Foreman said.
Kentucky and Indiana law allow for the departments to enter into aid agreements with other departments. Henderson and Evansville police have agreements to assist each other, but not the fire personnel.
The Henderson Fire Department is about 1/4 the size of Evansville's. Henderson has four fire stations with 60 full-time firefighters while Evansville has 17 stations with 274 firefighters.
The departments have helped each other in the past, but a written, signed agreement would address legal and bureaucratic gray areas.
The proposed ordinance on file with the Evansville City Clerk's office outlines the steps in case one agency needs to help the other — how to request for assistance, workers' compensation in case of accidents, who's in charge at a dispatch run and other details.
Connelly said mutual aid agreements aren't unusual for the city, but an agreement with a department in a different jurisdiction across state lines isn't as common.
There are differences in certification requirements between the states, but the agreement would have each state recognize the other when aid is needed, he said.
The agreement goes beyond fire runs — the departments could also share dive teams or hazardous material teams, Foreman said.
Luckily, Hendersonma hasn't had any major fire runs that required Evansville's assistance, Foreman said, but having an agreement in place and in writing "just in case" is good.
"It's just assurance as a fire chief that you're covered at all times," he said.
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