After years of negotiations, the Reno and Truckee Meadows fire departments have reached an automatic aid agreement set to take effect later this month. The agreement aims to eliminate jurisdictional issues that have previously delayed emergency response times.

In 2022, two people were trapped after a car crashed into a Great Clips salon in South Reno. The closest crew with lifesaving equipment was just four minutes away at a Truckee Meadows Fire Station on Foothill Road, outside of city limits. However, without an automatic aid agreement, dispatchers called a fire crew from downtown Reno, resulting in a ten-minute delay.

That same year, a local homeowners association filed a petition demanding automatic aid. Residents of Mountaingate, located within Reno city limits, reported relying on the third closest fire station during emergencies because the two nearest stations were county-operated.

In October, a house fire in Damonte Ranch highlighted the issue further. City of Reno crews responded, but records showed a 39-minute delay before a nearby county crew was called. David Gabbard, who lost his two stepsons in the fire, questioned why boundary lines affected the response.

"In a situation like that, I would think you would throw everything at it," Gabbard said.

Truckee Meadows Fire Chief Charles Moore credited media coverage for highlighting inefficiencies and propelling the issue forward.

"Well certainly it's called attention to it," Moore said. "I think it's helped propel this issue forward."

Both fire chiefs praised the new agreement.

"The goal is just to get the right resources to the right call at the right time as quickly as possible," said Reno Fire Chief Dave Cochran.

Moore added, "It is what the community should have in place for emergency services."

The delay in reaching an agreement remains unclear, as both agencies have publicly supported automatic aid for years. Reno Fire has cited separate dispatch systems as a challenge, but Truckee Meadows Fire and the Sparks Fire Department have successfully used automatic aid despite similar systems.

Sparks Fire Division Chief Derek Keller explained the frequency of their reliance on automatic aid.

"Daily," Keller said. "And that's why we have it so seamlessly. Because we're used to doing it."

Next year, all three fire agencies will switch to a new computer-aided dispatch system to further streamline the process. David Gabbard and his wife hope the agreement will prevent future tragedies.

"If this agreement helps prevent a future loss, it will bring some justice for their boys," Gabbard said.

The new automatic aid agreement will take effect on October 28.