New agreement supports
emergency response team  

[FEB. 20, 2004]  The Lincoln Fire Department paramedics will be closer to an emergency scene when the Lincoln Police Department Emergency Response Team is called out. The mutual aid agreement was proposed and unanimously accepted on Tuesday night by the Lincoln City Council. The agreement includes a letter of approval from the International Association of Fire Fighters 3092.

Fire Chief Bucky Washam said that he and Police Chief Rich Montcalm have been considering this arrangement for some time. Nine members of the ERT practice weekly together. Larger field practices include the fire department and other agencies.  Following those field practices the members of the ERT said that they felt they would like to have a couple of medical guys closer in to them at a scene.

The ERT team, which was formed under Chief Montcalm at the beginning of Mayor Davis' term, is prepared for potential hostage and terrorism situations. They have been called out to assist with drug-house busts and situations where someone is threatening harm to themselves and others.

The fire department is called out to these scenes also. They also have a trained hazardous material team.

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