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Frederick County is set to formalize what has been an informal arrangement with Loudoun County, Va., for the past four decades.

The two have provided fire and rescue services to each other's residents and businesses in the event of an emergency since the 1970s.

Typically, Loudoun firefighters have provided assistance when Frederick County rescue workers from several companies are called out on a large-scale emergency. Under the new agreement, this will continue.

In the event of an emergency, the communication center or emergency dispatch of the "host" county will contact the other county's communication center for help, the agreement states. But during the fire or emergency, the host county will handle all coordination.

A formal agreement has been formulated by fire and rescue officials in both counties and is expected to be approved today by Frederick County commissioners.

Thomas W. Owens, director of Frederick County's division of fire and rescue services, said his division doesn't track how many times Frederick County has responded to fires and accidents in Loudoun County or any related costs.

"We don't do a whole lot with Loudoun County," he said. "Primarily [we respond to] accidents on [U.S.] 15 and the Point of Rocks bridge."

Owen said if the county finds it is responding more frequently to fires and accidents in Loudoun, adjustments could be made to the agreement.

"It is not a new issue, but because of regulations in Virginia we had to create a [formal] agreement," Owens said.

Virginia law requires that a formal agreement be written and signed by both counties involved in such a situation. Loudoun County officials already have approved and signed their part of the agreement, Owen said.

Owen said the agreement allows rescue workers and firefighters from Loudoun County to provide assistance throughout all of Frederick County.

"There really is no boundary," he said.

Loudoun County borders Point of Rocks in Frederick County.

Under the agreement, all of Frederick County's 26 individual volunteer fire and rescue companies will participate. They will provide firefighting and rescue equipment and personnel, as well as basic and advanced life support ambulances.

Both counties must also provide the other with operational policies and procedures.

Frederick County has a similar agreement with Adams and Franklin counties in Pennsylvania, which border the county to the north, and Fort Detrick, Owens said.

sgreenfield@gazette.net.