A. Contracts Authorized: The City is hereby authorized and empowered to answer calls outside the City limits, and also to enter into contracts or agreements with individuals, firms, private corporations or associations, or political subdivisions of the State, for fire protection outside the corporate limits of the City. (1990 Code § 13-210)
B. Contract Terms; Fees For Service:
1. Any contract entered into by the City with an individual owner, firm, private corporation, or association for outside aid, or mutual aid for fire protection, shall provide for the payment by the owner, firm, private corporation, or association, or political subdivision to the City for such fire apparatus and personnel at the rate per call as set by the City Council. All monies received from the calls shall go into the General Fund.
2. The Fire Chief is authorized to establish and charge five hundred dollars ($500.00) for response to a structure fire; one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) for grass fires; and fifty dollars ($50.00) for grass fires affecting one (1) acre or less, or such other rates as may be authorized by the City Council. The Fire Chief is also authorized to establish prices for fire response calls in any other category at a reasonable rate, not to exceed the maximum provided in this subsection. In addition, the Fire Chief shall invoice the person or entity owning the real property affected for all chemicals used in the services, at invoiced rate. (1990 Code § 13-211; amd. 2006 Code)
C. Firefighters Serving In Regular Line Of Duty: All volunteer firefighters of the Fire Department attending and serving at fires or doing fire prevention work or rescue, resuscitation, first aid, inspection or any other official work outside the corporate limits of the City, as herein provided, shall be considered as serving in their regular line of duty as fully as if they were serving within the corporate limits of the City. The firefighters shall be entitled to all the benefits of any Firefighters Pension and Relief Fund in the same manner as if the firefighting or fire prevention work or rescue, resuscitation, first aid, inspection or any other official work was being done within the corporate limits of the City. Compensation of firefighters shall be as provided by the City Council by ordinance or resolution. (1990 Code § 13-212)
D. Department Considered Agent Of State: The Fire Department of the City answering any fire alarm or call, or performing any fire prevention services outside the corporate limits of the City shall be considered as an agent of the State, and acting solely and alone in a governmental capacity, and the City shall not be liable in damages for any act of commission, omission, or negligence while answering or returning from any fire, or reported fire, or doing any fire prevention work or rescue, resuscitation, first aid, inspection or any other official work under and by virtue of this section. (1990 Code § 13-213; amd. 2006 Code)