The city of Marietta and Cobb County agreed December 13 to continue sending fire personnel from the closest station to emergency calls within predefined areas regardless of jurisdiction.

Marietta and Cobb fire departments will send their closest resources to emergencies, fires and medical calls, even if the call for help is not in the department’s jurisdiction. Marietta firefighters will answer emergency calls in defined areas of Cobb County when a Marietta fire station is closer than a Cobb fire station. In addition, Cobb firefighters will answer calls inside the Marietta city limits when a Cobb fire station is closer than a Marietta station, especially near the outskirts of the city limits.

“This agreement will continue to provide Marietta and Cobb residents with the best fire services,” Marietta Fire Chief Jackie Gibbs said. “The agreement helps ensure dispatchers send the closest help when the public calls 9-1-1 with an emergency.”

The automatic aid agreement, effective January 1, 2007, sets boundaries the city will respond to in the county and balances the requests for service based on geography. The agreement is an amended version of the prior agreement and adjusts response areas to make the response volume between the city and county equitable.

“The response areas were amended to better balance the frequency that Marietta fire personnel respond into the county,” City Manager Bill Bruton said. “This will allow Marietta’s equipment and firefighters to spend more time on city issues while continuing the great service delivery provided by both departments.”

The automatic aid agreement supplements mutual aid both departments would give each other during complex events, such as hazardous materials calls, technical rescues and large fires.

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