A. Authority: 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 municipalities or subdivisions of the state. (1989 Code § 13-210)
B. Contract Terms, Fees For Services: 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 in such amounts as established by resolution of the city council. All monies received from the calls shall go into the general fund. (1989 Code § 13-211; amd. 2002 Code)
C. Authority To Answer Calls: The fire department 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. (1989 Code § 13-212; amd. 2002 Code)
D. Firefighters Serving In Regular Line Of Duty: All volunteer firefighters of the fire department 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 firefighter's pension and relief fund in the same manner as if the firefighting or fire prevention work was being done within the corporate limits of the city. Compensation of firefighters shall be as provided by the council by ordinance or resolution. (1989 Code § 13-213)
E. Department Considered Agent Of State: The fire department 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 municipality 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 subsection. (1989 Code § 13-214)