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IRON MOUNTAIN, KINGSFORD -- UPDATE:  Thursday. March17, 6:04 p.m.

When the Iron Mountain Fire Department responded to a house fire on Foster Street last month, they had to request assistance from Kingsford Public Safety to get help.

But now both cities are looking to change that system.

The proposed changes to the Mutual Aid Agreement would require both Iron Mountain and Kingsford to respond to structural fires as well as rescue situations in either city.  Currently, help can be given only if the responding department requests it.

When the Mutual Aid Agreement was initially put in place in 1998, both cities responded to emergencies.  In 2004, that changed to aid only when requested because of staffing problems in Iron Mountain.

The proposed changes are identical to the 1998 agreement.

"I think there's a renewed concern,” said Kingsford City Manager Darryl Wickman.  “[A] renewed emphasis on the importance of making sure this agreement is very strong and that it's going to work in the future."

However, not everyone in Kingsford is on the same page as Wickman.  When the proposal was discussed at a city council meeting, members of the Kingsford Public Safety Department said they opposed the change.

The department declined to comment for this story.

Iron Mountain supports the change, and City Manager Jordan Stanchina is hopeful the agreement could lead to future dialogue between the cities.

"The majority of the council is in favor of going forward with this initial step,” said Stanchina.  “I think it's an initial step also that could lead to further cooperation down the road, and that's why we're trying to put it back in place."

Kingsford will discuss the issue further with its employees before voting on the proposal.

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Iron Mountain and Kingsford are discussing changes to the Mutual Aid Agreement between the two cities.

The proposed changes would require both the Iron Mountain Fire Department and Kingsford Public Safety to respond to structure fires or rescue situations in either city.

Under the current agreement assistance is only provided if it's requested.

You can see the details of the proposal later today on Upper Michigan's Source and on your TV6 Late News.