What is MABAS?

 
 

MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System)…

in partnership with IEMA (Illinois Emergency Management Agency) have established a statewide, non-discriminatory mutual aid response system for fire, EMS and specialized incident operational teams. Sharing the effort are representatives from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Department of Public Health – EMS Division and Illinois Fire Chiefs Association. The system defines a resource response plan to any location within the state when the Governor orders a Declaration of Disaster. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on January 16, 2001, and updated in 2006, a first in Illinois fire service history.

MABAS has also become a Partner Agency with Cook County’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Together, MABAS and CCDHSEM designs and establishes capability-based systems to serve the high density, urban area.

Historically, IEMA has had the capability through state resources and assets to support disaster-stricken communities in many areas except Fire, EMS, Technical Rescue, Urban Search and Rescue, Water Rescue & Recovery, and Hazardous Materials Operations Teams. Illinois resources like State Police, Department of Transportation and numerous other state assets are able to mobilize under the direction of the Governor in response to a disaster. Since Illinois does not own a fire department, EMS ambulances or specialized operations teams, a substantial "system" resource within the control of the state was lacking. The plan provides a system of "one-stop shopping" for IEMA officials to activate and mobilize local municipal fire, EMS and special operations assets through MABAS.

Learn more about MABAS by clicking here.

 

MABAS…

  • Is a statewide mutual aid system, which has been in existence since the late 1960s.

  • Includes approximately 1,175 of the state’s 1,246 fire departments organized within 69 divisions.

  • Offers specialized operations teams for hazardous materials (40 teams), underwater rescue/recovery (15 teams), technical rescue (39 teams) and a state-sponsored urban search and rescue team.

To become a mabas division

  • A resolution or ordinance being enacted by the governing body and signing of the MABAS contract.

  • There is no cost to join MABAS, however once joining MABAS an annual dues requirement exists on a sliding schedule based on a member departments annual operating budget.