St. Joseph Fire Department and Doniphan County fire district near agreement to provide emergency services

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Two fire departments are hoping to strengthen ties with a new agreement up for first reading at Monday's City Council meeting.

The St. Joseph Fire Department and the Doniphan County Fire Protection District #4 in Elwood, Kansas, are nearing a partnership that would allow the two to provide emergency services in the other's jurisdiction.

Services would include requests for assistance, directions to incident scenes and other mutual aid opportunities. The proposed ordinance on Monday's agenda outlines the full terms under which each will provide fire emergency services in the other's jurisdiction.

Data from October shows SJFD had roughly 128 personnel on staff, a strong figure that includes 51 firefighters, 33 drivers, 33 captains, three fire Inspectors, three Battalion Chiefs and five Fire Administration positions.

A total of nine different fire stations -- many of them new -- span the city.

News-Press NOW will continue to update this story.