Intrastate Mutual Aid System (IMAS)

With support from DHS’ National Integration Center (NIC), the ultimate goal of IMAS is to support the development of comprehensive and functional mutual aid plans for the fire service in all states and, eventually, tribal nations and U.S. territories.

IMAS Success Stories

Proving Mutual Aid: Wisconsin Successfully Activates Fire Service Emergency Response Plan (pdf)

Proving Mutual Aid: Texas’ Experience with Hurricane Ike (pdf)

Toolbox

Guide to Intrastate Mutual Aid Planning (pdf)
A guide to assist the fire service in any state to develop or enhance intrastate mutual aid plans. The guide includes a recommended planning process, proposed functional components of a plan, best practice tips to help with planning, and some obstacles and supporting factors that could affect the development of a plan.

IMAS Development Timetable (pdf)

IMAS Technical Experts (TEs) (pdf, updated 11/2/09)
Selected for their experience in mutual aid knowledge, planning and operation, each TE is assigned to work with project states on their IMAS planning process to develop or enhance their statewide mutual aid plans. Please contact IMAS staff to receive a TE’s contact information.

Field Guide Development

To help states market and educate fire service personnel on their plan, the IAFC can assist in the creation of a pocket- sized field guide based on the response plan. Once agreed by the stakeholders, the states and localities are encouraged to distribute the field guides to their emergency response personnel. The following examples can be used as templates.

Tennessee FROG (pdf)
Texas Field Guide (pdf, 2.6 mb, updated 11/2/09)
California FIRESCOPE (pdf, 2.1 mb)

State Marketing Tools

Getting the word out about a state's mutual aid plan is a key step towards having a successful mutual aid system. View the examples below for ideas:

Tennessee Tactical Marketing Plan (pdf, 2 mb)
IMAS Marketing Tool: Tennessee Marketing Video
Minnesota Mutual Aid Pocket Guide (pdf)

Training Templates

Training key personnel is essential for a mutual aid plan to operate well. View the sample training materials below for guidance:

Mutual Aid Coordinator Handbook (.doc)

Tabletop Exercise Scenarios

Plan maintenance ensures that a state’s plan is current and maintained as a working document. Tabletop exercises can be used to identify gaps in a plan, train on a plan, and update appendices and forms. View the scenarios below that have been created for conducting tabletop exercises.