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New law removes liability for responding volunteer firefighters

The law will remove liability for volunteer firefighters in the state on all calls and not just when responding to fire

WAFB

ASCENSION PARISH, La. — Volunteer firefighters provide protection in what can be a matter of life and death, but they can be subject to legal nightmares in many cases. Now, help for them will soon be on the way.

Fire District 1 in Ascension Parish is one of many districts in Louisiana consisting primarily of volunteer firefighters.

“Six departments in my district with about 200 volunteers,” said fire coordinator Gene Witek. Witek is the fire coordinator in District 1 and said about four out of the five calls his men and women roll out on are emergency service calls. Under existing state law, volunteer firefighters are still liable when responding to any other call. That, however, is about to change.

Full story: New law removes liability for responding volunteer firefighters

WAFB 9 News Baton Rouge, Louisiana News, Weather, Sports