§ 25-21,282.Immunity from liability; exceptions.

Volunteer and rural fire departments often rely on donated trucks, tools, and gear rather than new equipment bought at full price. Section 25-21,282 removes a legal disincentive to that generosity. A person who donates fire control or rescue equipment to a fire department, or to a political subdivision for its fire department’s use, is not liable for civil damages, personal injury, property loss, or death, that the equipment causes after the donation.

The protection has two limits. It does not cover harm caused by the donor’s own intentional or reckless conduct or gross negligence, so a donor who knowingly hands over equipment in plainly dangerous condition cannot claim the shield. And it never applies to a vendor or manufacturer of fire control or rescue equipment; the immunity is reserved for the person or entity making a genuine donation, not for the businesses that build or sell that gear commercially. The section defines fire control or rescue equipment broadly, covering vehicles, tools, communications equipment, and protective gear used in firefighting, rescue, or emergency medical services, and defines fire department to include paid and volunteer departments and related emergency squads.