Franklin-Simpson Fire Rescue requesting aid from Plano Volunteer Fire Dept.

A volunteer fire department in Warren County will soon be lending a helpful hand to its neighbors to the south. 

At Friday’s Warren County Fiscal Court meeting, magistrates voted unanimously to move forward with plans to allow volunteer firefighters in Plano to assist Franklin-Simpson Fire Rescue.

Fire-rescue officials from Franklin-Simpson say there are about 115 homes in the very northern end of the county that would benefit greatly from the mutual aid. 

Plano firefighters would only provide service during structure fires.

The Franklin-Simpson Fire-Rescue Chief says the aid will lower property rates for the residents in those 115 households and cut down on response time. 

"Plano will be a lot closer in those instances," said Chief Leslie Goodrum. "These folks should be able to get there a little quicker than we are, thus saving lives and property."

Goodrum says residents of Plano should not worry. The Plano volunteer firefighters will not respond to Franklin-Simpson if they’re already on a call in the Plano area.