Daisy Mountain sports new truck
Courtesy of Goodyear Fire Department and Automatic Aid
by Jennifer Krahe        

The automatic aid system goes back approximately 20 years in our state’s history, and is one of only a handful of such agreements across the country. Of Arizona’s program, Deputy Fire Chief Mike Ullman of Goodyear boasts, “It’s very unique in the country. There are several areas that do it, but not as well as we do.”

He added that people elsewhere don’t think it can work, but when they see Arizona’s program, they know it does.

“You give and give and don’t expect anything in return,” Ullman said, “but we always get back more than we give.”

As explained by the Goodyear deputy chief, “Automatic aid is an agreement basically stating that there are no borders between municipalities or agencies. Fire departments always help in any way they can, especially in emergency response situations.”

The unique agreement has allowed Goodyear Fire Department to lend Daisy Mountain Fire Department a brand‑new truck, after a DMFD truck was destroyed in an April 15 head‑on collision. It is what Ullman calls a “basic Class A pumper.” Goodyear is providing the truck and DMFD is outfitting it with firefighting, emergency medical and rescue equipment such as extraction tools, advanced life‑support tools, hoses and nozzles.

Goodyear purchased the new fire truck a few months ago, but “we don’t have the station for it,” Ullman said. “We just finished building the station, and actually moved in a couple weeks ago. So, we have one extra truck.” Because DMFD was in need of that extra truck, the automatic aid system permitted such a gift from Goodyear.

Although the two fire departments are members of the automatic aid arrangement, which Ullman describes as “a handshake with some legal and binding agreements,” he admits, “Even if they weren’t in the automatic aid agreement, we’d probably still loan it.” Automatic aid makes it easier for fire departments to communicate and help each other.

Another example of automatic aid’s handiness cited by Ullman is Goodyear’s upcoming awards ceremony, which all on‑duty companies are asked to attend. “Neighboring cities have offered to come out and staff our stations,” he related. “And we do the same thing. Everyone always has. It’s a beautiful thing.

“It feels really good that we are able to help someone,” Ullman said with a big smile.