The Burlington Fire Department is considering joining an Illinois-based program called MABAS. 

During a city council meeting on Monday, Fire Chief Tom Clements gave a presentation about the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System.

“Between us and the next MABAS station sits Henderson County,” Clements told the council. “When Monmouth (Ill) had a fire, the dog food company, at that point in time they realized that even though they were involved in MABAS, they’re rural enough that they were running out of the equipment needed to handle that fire.

“After that time, they approached us about being involved in MABAS.”

MABAS was established in Illinois in the 1960s to give law enforcement agencies a response plan to any location in the state that is suffering from a disaster.

The council’s reaction was positive, especially when Clements revealed that membership is only $200 a year.