Fire agencies salute Roth for disaster preparedness help

Local area fire chiefs and participating members of the statewide Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) Division 15 presented an appreciation plaque to State Representative Pam Roth for her ongoing support of disaster preparedness through mutual aid.

Local area fire chiefs from MABAS 15 are part of an intergovernmental cooperative called MABAS, which includes 68 divisions, nearly 1,100 fire agencies and 38,000 firefighter/EMTs, whose mission is to share resources through a coordinated statewide plan in support of stricken member cities, towns and villages.

“If it wasn’t for the cooperative nature of Illinois’ Fire Service and the active and passive support of state officials, including Representative Pam Roth, MABAS would not be the premier statewide mutual aid and disaster response system that it is,” said Fire Chief Robert Coleman of the Morris Fire Protection and Ambulance District and MABAS Division 15.

MABAS has been recognized by the International Association of Fire chiefs, FEMA and DHS as one of the national leaders of local mutual aid systems, producing one of the most prepared, practiced and comprehensive capabilities for cooperative coordinated disaster response throughout the United States.

“MABAS works closely with our state agency partners, including Illinois Emergency Management Agency, the State Fire Marshal, Department of Public Health and more through the Illinois Terrorism Task Force," Coleman said. "Representative Roth has effectively opened the door for real partnerships in disaster response with our colleagues from the State of Illinois. Illinois Fire Service has become the national benchmark in mutual aid through MABAS.”