Subd. 1. Scope.

The terms used in this chapter have the meanings given them in this section.

Subd. 2. Fire department.

"Fire department" means a regularly organized fire department, fire protection district, or fire company regularly charged with the responsibility of providing fire protection to the state or a local government and includes a private nonprofit fire department directly serving a local government. It does not include industrial fire brigades that do not have a fire department identification number issued by the state fire marshal.

Subd. 3. Firefighter.

"Firefighter" means a volunteer, paid on-call, part-time, or full-time firefighter serving a general population within the boundaries of the state.