A. The governing body of every county, city, and town shall have power to provide for the purchase, operation, staffing, and maintenance of suitable equipment for firefighting or performing emergency medical services in or upon the property of the county, city, or town and of its inhabitants, and to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which the same will be used for fighting fires or performing emergency medical services in or upon privately owned property. All equipment purchased after October 1, 1970, shall be equipped with threads of USA Standard B2.3, B2.4 of the American Standards Association.
B. Any fire department of a county, city, or town, or any fire company donating equipment for fighting fires to any fire department or any fire company, which equipment met existing engineering and safety standards at the time of its purchase by the donating entity, shall be immune from civil liability unless the donating entity acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct.
C. A safety inspection shall be completed by a certified emergency vehicle service center and a report designating any deficiencies shall be provided prior to the change in ownership of the donated emergency vehicle.
1970, c. 187; 2001, c. 142; 2010, c. 545; 2015, cc. 502, 503.
Structure Code of Virginia
Chapter 2 - Fire/EMS Departments and Fire/EMS Companies
§ 27-6.02. Provision of firefighting services
§ 27-6.1. Establishment of fire department; chiefs, officers, and employees
§ 27-6.2. Applicant preemployment information with fire departments
§ 27-8. Who may form a fire company; limit on number of persons in combined companies
§ 27-9. Organization of fire company
§ 27-10. Dissolution of fire company
§ 27-11. Duty of members on alarm of fire or call of a medical emergency
§ 27-13. Appointment of chief and other officers
§ 27-14. Ordinances as to fire departments and fire companies
§ 27-15.1:1. Penalty for refusing or neglecting to obey order of chief or other officer in command
§ 27-15.2. Purchase, maintenance, etc., of equipment; donated equipment
§ 27-15.3. Purchase of service-issued boots or helmet by certain firefighters
§ 27-17. Entry of buildings on fire and premises adjoining
§ 27-17.1. Remaining on premises after fire extinguished
§ 27-20. Destruction of property to prevent spread of fire
§ 27-21. Owner may recover amount of actual damage
§ 27-22. But not for property which would have been destroyed by the fire
§ 27-23.1. Establishment of fire zones or districts; tax levies
§ 27-23.2. Advances by city or county to fire zone or district
§ 27-23.3. Reimbursement for advances
§ 27-23.4. Validation of prior advances
§ 27-23.7. Special levy for fire protection in certain counties
§ 27-23.8. Trial board for members of fire departments in certain counties
§ 27-23.9. Supervision and control of joint services of fire companies or departments