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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 2Pt. 1Ch. 1Art. 6§ 53118 Emergency Aid Across Jurisdictions

§ 53118 Emergency Aid Across Jurisdictions

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 53118 Emergency Aid Across Jurisdictions

Key Takeaways

  • •Emergency services (like police, fire, or ambulance) must help anyone who calls, even if the person is outside their usual area.
  • •If an emergency team is sent to help, they must keep helping until the local team takes over, no matter where they are.
  • •Different emergency teams can make agreements to work together and help each other’s areas when needed.

Example

You call 911 for a car crash, but you’re right on the edge of two towns. The ambulance from Town A arrives first, even though the crash is technically in Town B.

The ambulance from Town A must help you right away and can’t say 'no' just because you’re in Town B’s area. They’ll keep helping until Town B’s ambulance shows up to take over.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 53118 Emergency Aid Across Jurisdictions

The Legislature declares that a major purpose in enacting this article is to eliminate instances in which a responding emergency service refuses to render aid to the requester because the requester is outside of the jurisdictional boundaries of the emergency service. A public safety agency which receives a request through the system for emergency services outside its jurisdictional boundaries shall transmit the request to the proper public safety answering point or public safety agency utilizing the methods described in Sections 53103 to 53105, inclusive. In the event an emergency unit is dispatched in response to a request through the system, such unit shall render its services to the requesting party without regard to whether the unit is operating outside its normal jurisdictional boundaries until properly relieved by the public safety agency responsible for that geographical area. Public agencies within a single system and public agencies in different systems but whose jurisdictional boundaries are contiguous are authorized to enter into joint powers agreements or any other form of written cooperative agreement to implement this requirement. These agreements may further provide for a public safety agency to render aid outside its normal jurisdictional boundaries when need arises on a day-to-day basis. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 443.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

agreementfireemergencylegislaturesafetyjurisdictionimplementrequirement

Related Statutes

  • § 53100 Emergency Number Standardization Act
  • § 53100.5 Emergency Services Statewide Policy
  • § 53105 Emergency Call Transfer Method
  • § 53112 Emergency Call System Requirements
  • § 53115.1 State 911 Advisory Board

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 53118.
View Official Source