(Above): Norfolk Engine 1 on scene in Millis at the intersection of Route 115 and Village Street, assisting at a motor vehicle accident on Wednesday, January 6. Millis fire was committed to two accidents at the time. Two firefighter/paramedics covered the Norfolk station while Engine 1 was out. Photo Courtesy of the Norfolk Fire Department Given local fiscal problems, mutual aid is becoming the norm for how firefighters deliver fire and emergency medical services to the community.

For example, on Wednesday, January 6 the Norfolk Fire Department responded to six emergencies, half involving mutual aid responses.

At 2:23 p.m., Norfolk was requested by the Millis Fire Department to assist at a motor vehicle accident near the intersections of Route 115 and Village Street. Norfolk’s Engine 1 responded.

Shortly thereafter, Norfolk’s Rescue 1 was requested by Walpole Fire for a patient needing ALS on Washington Street at 3:39 p.m.

Norfolk received assistance from the Wrentham Fire Department with an engine company at 11:35 p.m. after a fire was reported at the Eagle Brook Saloon on Dedham Street. Nor- folk responded with two engines and a ladder truck staffed by seven members. An extinguished fire was found in the kitchen area involving cleaning supplies.

The response by the Wrentham Fire Department is part of a plan to achieve adequate staffing for fire responses involving structures.

Norfolk reciprocates with Wrentham, providing the same type of assistance for the east side of their community.

“Each day the movement of fire department resources among communities represents how the fire service responds to emergencies in an effort to stay within a budget,” said Norfolk Fire Chief Coleman Bushnell. “Departments are forced to seek alternative means for delivering emergency services, so mutual aid is used much more today than in the past.”

Other incidents handled by Norfolk on Wednesday included: an ALS medical call on Kingsbury Road at 11:04 a.m., handled by Squad 1 and Rescue 2; response to an injured ice skater at the Norfolk Arena at 2:03 p.m., with Rescue and Squad 1 responding; and a report of an unauthorized burn on Meetinghouse Lane at the condominium construction site, which was handled by Engine 2.