After being contacted by Chief Jerry Minor of the Pittsville Fire Department, MFRD staffed an engine to assist in Juneau County as part of an Engine Strike Team.
The request for assistance from Wood County MABAS Division 116 (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) was for five engines, each staffed with four firefighters, to go to various locations in Juneau County and assist with severe flooding. The MFRD sent an engine with three personnel as daily staffing was at minimum level of eight.
“MABAS is designed to bring resources to agencies when their own resources or situation have become overwhelmed,” said Chief Scott Owen. “When a community exhausts its resources, MABAS can be activated and through a systematic plan, MABAS will help with immediate assistance of personnel and equipment at the scene of an emergency or disaster, activate different types of response teams, access to specialized equipment and teams, etc.”
The crew staffed the fire station in New Lisbon, allowing responders in the area the chance to take a break, relax, and eat before having to work in the next operational period. The crew returned to Marshfield around 1:00 AM.
“One of the main reasons these types of deployments are important quite simply is you never know when you are going to need assistance in a disaster and hope others come to help,” said Owen. “We were happy to offer the assistance when called.”
