Park Ridge, IL- Local area fire chiefs and participating members of the statewide Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) Division 1 presented an appreciation plaque to State Senator Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) recently for his ongoing support of disaster preparedness through mutual aid. Local area fire chiefs from MABAS Division 1 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 coordinate 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 Senator Kotowski, MABAS would not be the premier statewide mutual aid and disaster response system that it is,” Rolling Meadows Fire Chief Ron Stewart said. “MABAS works closely with our state agency partners including the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, the State Fire Marshal, Department of Public Health, and more through the Illinois Terrorism Task Force. Senator Kotowski has effectively opened the door for real partnerships in disaster response with our colleagues from the State of Illinois. Illinois Fire Service has become a national benchmark in mutual aid through MABAS.”
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.
“While I am humbled to receive this honor, this award should really be going to the firefighters of this great state, as they are the ones risking their lives on a daily basis to keep our families and our communities safe,” Kotowski said.
