40A:14-26. Emergency assistance for fire and police protection from other municipality; payment; rights in event of casualty or death

In the event of an emergency the chief or head of any municipal fire department and force, volunteer fire company, municipal police department and force or park police department and force, or first aid or ambulance squad, corps or company, or the mayor or chief executive officer of any municipality may request from the chief or the head of the fire department and force or volunteer fire company of any other municipality assistance to protect life and property outside the normal territorial jurisdiction of the department or company to which such request is directed.

The chief or head of the fire department and force, or volunteer fire company of any contiguous municipality, to whom such a request for assistance is made shall, except as hereinafter otherwise set forth, provide such personnel and equipment as requested to the extent possible without endangering person or property within the municipality rendering such assistance.

The members of any department and force or company providing assistance hereunder shall have, while so acting, the same powers and authority as have the members of the fire department and force or volunteer fire company of the municipality, or other territorial jurisdiction, in which such aid is rendered. Said members shall also have, while so acting, such rights and immunities as they otherwise enjoy in the performance of their normal duties in the municipality, or other territorial jurisdiction, rendering such assistance.

Any municipality receiving assistance hereunder shall pay to the fire department and force, or volunteer fire company, providing the assistance a sum computed at the rate of $3.00 for each member and $35.00 for each equipped fire apparatus for each hour supplied unless terms and conditions for payment are otherwise provided for in an agreement between the several municipalities.

Volunteer fire companies of contiguous municipalities shall be required to respond to such requests for assistance only to the extent they have agreed to do so in an agreement with a paid fire department and force or a municipality.

If any member of such other fire department and force, or volunteer fire company shall, in rendering such assistance, suffer any casualty or death he or his designee or legal representative shall be entitled to all salary, pension rights, workmen's compensation and other benefits to which such member would be entitled if such casualty or death occurred in the performance of his duties in the municipality, or other territorial jurisdiction, rendering such assistance.

L.1971, c. 197, s. 1, eff. July 1, 1971. Amended by L.1972, c. 4, s. 1, eff. Feb. 15, 1972; L.1977, c. 400, s. 1, eff. Feb. 23, 1978.