MABAS is a great thing.  It forces local departments to think ahead in case all **** breaks loose.  It provides a way to get almost any assistance you need.  Of course, you are agreeing to provide assistance to other departments in their time of need as well.

The biggest problem with MABAS (from my perspective) is it's management and operation comes from a career based department perspective.  The folks in charge don't always relate well to how some of us folks out in the sticks have to do things.  It isn't that they are right or wrong, it is a fact of life for us.  They operate in a much more structured and professional environment.

The "big boys" have specialized response teams trained and equipped for certain situations.  Our SOP is the first person jumps in Truck 1 and the second person jumps in Truck 2 and head for the smoke.  OK, not really ... most of the time.  But some days when people are at work and in the field our department may only have 2-3 people available for an initial response.

The career guys don't understand how we can work that way.

MABAS is geared toward the big departments.  But it provides me with quick access to whatever I need.  If a gasoline tanker wrecks on the highway I have a pre-planned response I can refer dispatch to.  If I need a foam truck from the refinery 20 miles down the road the procedure is in place to get it here. If the office building in the center of town 45 miles away goes up, thanks to MABAS there is already a plan in place to get needed equipment and manpower there and manage it.  That is what MABAS has done for us.

It has taken mutual aid to a higher level.