TONAWANDA, NY — August 29 — North Tonawanda Professional Firefighters Local 1333 was called upon to offer mutual aid to the City of Tonawanda for a reported structure fire at a working building on Delaware Avenue.

North Tonawanda dispatched Engine 4 and Truck 1 to the scene, where they worked alongside the City of Tonawanda firefighters during the response.

The North Tonawanda units returned to their city shortly after 7 a.m.

While Engine 4 and Truck 1 were involved in the mutual-aid assignment, off-duty firefighters were on duty at Engine 8 at the North Tonawanda Fire Headquarters to ensure local coverage remained intact.

Engine 6 was also available for city operations and responded to an EMS call while the other units were in Tonawanda.

Mutual-aid assignments enable neighboring departments to provide additional fire apparatus and personnel while still maintaining coverage in their own areas.

North Tonawanda and Tonawanda firefighters have previously worked together on several structure fires, including situations where North Tonawanda provided engines and ladder trucks to Tonawanda.

North Tonawanda Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 1333 represents the city's career firefighters, and their current collective bargaining agreement is valid through 2027.

The response on August 29 highlighted the importance of ensuring staffing and apparatus availability when fire companies are deployed for mutual-aid operations outside their city.