Iowa Code Title I. State Sovereignty and Management [Chs. 1-38D] § 28E.31. Emergency services--contracts for mutual aid

1. A municipality's fire department that agrees to provide for mutual aid regarding emergency services shall do so in writing. The contracts that are agreed upon may provide for compensation from the parties and other terms that are agreeable to the parties and may be for an indefinite period as long as they include a sixty-day cancellation notice by any party. The contracts agreed upon shall not be entered into for the purpose of reducing the number of employees of any party.

2. A municipal fire department may provide assistance to any other such department or district in the state at the time of a significant emergency such as a fire, earthquake, flood, tornado, hazardous material incident, or other such disaster. The chief or highest ranking fire officer of an assisting department or district may render aid to a requesting department or district as long as the chief or officer is acting in accordance with the policies and procedures set forth by the governing board of the assisting department or district.

3. The chief or highest ranking officer of the municipal fire department of the district within which the incident occurs shall maintain control of the incident in accordance with the provisions of chapter 102. The chief or highest ranking officer of the department or district giving mutual aid shall be in charge of the assisting departmental or district personnel.

4. For purposes of this section, “municipality” means a city, county, township, benefited fire district, or agency formed under this chapter and authorized by law to provide emergency services.