Scottsdale Fire Chief Tom Shannon is not satisfied — nor are other municipalities, some say — with the level of partnership it was receiving from Rural Metro Fire Department, Inc., In response, a mutual aid agreement between the city and RMFD has been terminated after a Jan. 31 City Council vote.
Mutual aid agreements are a less-formal partnership where if one fire department requests help, another department may provide if resources are available.
However, Tim Soule, fire chief for Rural Metro Fire Central Arizona, says in a written letter that the decision to end the mutual aid agreement puts Scottsdale residents, neighboring communities and firefighters at a higher degree of risk. Soule also spoke publicly to Scottsdale City Council during a Jan. 31 meeting, prior to the scheduled vote on the item.
