This mutual/automatic aid agreement allows for the provision and receiving of assistance for emergencies between Spotsylvania County and Caroline County. The existing mutual aid agreement with Caroline County is outdated and does not provide for the ability to establish an agreed upon process to automatically share resources to respond to certain emergencies in designated areas along the border of the two jurisdictions. By establishing an automatic aid agreement, necessary resources can be mutually deployed in a more efficient manner. Such an agreement is recognized by the Insurance Service Office, as a means for providing bona fide fire protection services in areas along the County’s boundaries, where a neighboring jurisdiction may have a station closer than one within the County. This updated agreement also adds the capability to provide equipment and/or apparatus between localities when apparatus or equipment is out for repair and unavailable, or to address the needs of a specific event.

Denial or inaction may hinder the effectiveness incident mitigation in areas that may have benefited from such an agreement. Additionally, County residents that may live further than 5 miles from a County station, yet within 5 miles of a Caroline County station will not receive the benefit of the potential savings on homeowner’s insurance costs.