Five Fire Departments Pledge Emergency Aid

Five Charleston-area fire departments signed an agreement Monday so that the closest firefighters are the first to respond to a fire scene, regardless of municipal and service boundaries. The automatic aid and response agreement also will help as departments assist one another during a major fire event.

Departments involved include the City of Charleston, the City of North Charleston, James Island Public Service District St. Andrew's Public Service District and St. John's Fire District — impacting approximately 800 firefighters and communities from Daniel Island and Ladson Road to Kiawah Island and the Charleston peninsula.

"No matter where the community is where the emergency occurs, the closest units respond," North Charleston Fire Chief Greg Bulanow told Patch. "By working together on a daily basis, it also increases our capability when a major incident occurs when we will have to work together. When that happens, we'll be more coordinated and more effective."