No response yet on mutual aid request

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- Providence has not yet responded to requests from three surrounding communities that they be paid for mutual aid.

The Mayors of Johnston, East Providence, and North Providence asked last month that Providence pay $500 each time their fire departments respond to calls for help. They said their communities could no longer afford the costs of sending mutual aid.

All three mayors said Monday they had yet to hear back from Providence officials, despite asking for a response by June 15th.

North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi backed away from setting a clear-cut deadline, when his town might pull mutual aid service.

"We're trying to work this out," Mayor Lombardi said.

Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare said last month the city simply did not have the money to pay surrounding communities for mutual aid.