U.S. Army and City of Ansbach sign mutual aid agreement
The agreement was signed following a memorial ceremony at Katterbach Barracks marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11. The event brought together host nation partners, city leaders, emergency responders, and military community members.
Col. Michael Cookey, commander of USAG Ansbach, and Lord Mayor Thomas Deffner signed the agreement. Overseeing the ceremony were Stefan Groetschel, fire chief for USAG Ansbach and Steffen Beck, fire chief for the City of Ansbach.
The memorial ceremony preceding the signing reinforced the day’s significance. Timed to align with the events of Sept. 11, 2001, the observance began with the tolling of a bell and the sounding of fire sirens. Participants honored the victims of the attacks in New York, at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania, as well as the first responders who risked their lives to save others.
“As we reflect on 9/11, we remember a day of profound loss, sorrow and courage,” Cookey said. “One of the enduring lessons of 9/11 is that no community responds to crisis alone.”
That message framed the significance of the agreement, which formalizes and expands a long-standing working relationship between the garrison and the city’s emergency services.
For years, Ansbach Fire & Emergency Services and U.S. Army Fire & Emergency Services have supported one another during major incidents. Their cooperation has included operational coordination, shared emergency notifications and training opportunities. German firefighters have also trained at the U.S. Army Fire Training Center, an IMCOM-E run training facility not otherwise available locally.
The new agreement establishes a standard policy for mutual fire protection between the City of Ansbach and U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach. Its stated purpose is to secure the benefits of mutual aid in fire prevention, protection of life and property, firefighting and emergency services.
Under the agreement, either side may request firefighting equipment and personnel from the other through established channels. Requests must specify the type and amount of equipment, the number of personnel needed and the location of the incident. The responding fire department will determine what resources it can provide.
The agreement also outlines how responding units will operate once dispatched. Responding personnel will report to the responsible official of the requesting fire department and will remain on scene until released. If the responding department is needed back in its normal coverage area, release from the mutual aid incident is to be initiated as soon as possible.
In addition to emergency response, the agreement emphasizes preparedness through joint training and exercises. Each party will provide the other opportunities to participate in relevant training courses, exercises and programs, based on availability, resources and applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
The document also addresses liability, command relationships and legal authorities. Each party waives claims against the other for loss, damage, injury or death arising from performance under the agreement, except in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Personnel and equipment remain under the ownership and employment authority of the responding organization.
Within the footprint of U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach, the U.S. fire chief or a designated representative will serve as incident commander. In the event of a catastrophic incident, a predesignated representative of the City of Ansbach may be appointed as the host nation assigned incident commander under Bavarian disaster law.
The agreement also states that it does not alter or affect applicable provisions of the Status of Forces Agreement.
For Cookey, the signing represented more than an administrative milestone. He described it as a practical commitment to readiness, cooperation and the safety of both communities.
“Effective emergency response depends on trust, readiness, communication and strong partnerships built before an emergency occurs,” Cookey said. “Here in Ansbach, our relationship with city leaders and emergency services is a vital part of that readiness.”
Deffner underscored the close connection between the city and the garrison, noting that the U.S. Army is part of the Ansbach community and that cooperation between the respective fire departments already plays an important role in local public safety.
“As the garrison and City of Ansbach move forward under this new agreement, the partnership reflects a shared responsibility to protect lives and property,” said Deffner.
For the garrison and its host nation partners, the agreement stands as both a symbol of German-American friendship and a practical framework for responding together when emergencies occur.
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