As used in this chapter, the following words and terms have the following meanings:

(1) “Covered firefighters” shall mean enrolled firefighters, ladies auxiliary members, and volunteer ambulance and rescue company members in good standing either according to the rules of their Delaware volunteer fire company or association or through their assignment to a municipal fire company. The use of the masculine gender throughout this chapter in referring to “covered firemen” shall also include the feminine gender where applicable.

(2) “Line of duty,” with respect to enrolled firefighters, ladies auxiliary members and volunteer ambulance and rescue company members as defined in paragraph (1) of this section, shall mean while traveling to, performing their assigned duties or returning from, a fire alarm, rescue operation or any other emergency volunteer fire company action; provided, however, that the phrases “traveling to” and “returning from” shall include the time encompassed by the firefighter’s, ladies auxiliary members’ or volunteer ambulance and rescue company members’ entrance into their personal vehicle or company emergency vehicle in response to the alarm or emergency call until their first disembarkation from their personal vehicle at their home, place of employment or other location.

(3) “Permanent disability” shall mean a permanent physical condition arising out of and in the course of actions in the line of duty, but shall not include permanent disability from an injury or disease, which, although aggravated in the line of duty, was not originally sustained in the line of duty; provided, however, that said permanent disability must be sufficient to disable the covered firefighter so that the firefighter is unable to do the work normally required for the job or employment which he or she held at the time he or she was disabled.

59 Del. Laws, c. 484, § 1; 63 Del. Laws, c. 450, §§ 1, 2; 67 Del. Laws, c. 53, §§ 1, 2; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.