A. Contracts Authorized: The city is hereby authorized and empowered 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, and to contract to provide fire protection jointly with other organizations and municipal subdivisions of the state. (1987 Code § 13-211)
B. Terms, Fees For Service: 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. (1987 Code § 13-212)
C. Authority To Answer Calls: The fire department of the city is hereby authorized and directed to answer all calls outside the corporate city limits in the discretion of the fire chief. The fire department may not answer such outside calls if, in the opinion of the fire chief, it is inexpedient to do so on account of another fire in the city, broken apparatus, impassable or dangerous highways, or other physical conditions. (1987 Code § 13-213)
D. Firefighters Serving In Regular Line Of Duty: All volunteer firefighters of the fire department of the city attending and serving at fires or doing fire prevention 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 were being done within the corporate limits of the city. Compensation of firefighters shall be as provided by the city council by ordinance or resolution. (1987 Code § 13-214)
E. 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 under and by virtue of this section. (1987 Code § 13-215)