Appointment of substitute firefighters; recall of off-duty firefighters

Substitute firefighters or recalled off-duty firefighters within any county, city or fire district from which regular firefighters are taken under the provisions of ORS 476.530, not exceeding the number of regular firefighters, may be recalled or appointed by the same persons authorized by law to appoint regular firefighters, provided that substitute firefighters appointed shall not be subject to the requirements of the civil service law or rules and that such substitute firefighters shall not be entitled to any pension or retirement rights or privileges. The substitute firefighters appointed under this section shall have the powers, functions and duties of regular firefighters. Their compensation shall not be greater than the lowest rate of pay for regular firefighters. Persons appointed as substitute firefighters shall exercise their powers, functions and duties only when called upon, during the period all, or any part, of the regular fire-fighting forces of any county, city or fire district are rendering outside aid pursuant to ORS 476.520 or 476.530, and for no longer than two days after the return to duty of the part of the regular fire-fighting forces for which they are substituting. Compensation for recalled off-duty firefighters and substitute firefighters and any allowable expense necessarily incurred by them in the performance of their duties shall be charged against the county, city or fire district for which they were appointed and shall be audited, allowed and paid as other charges against it are audited, allowed and paid, and shall be subject to reimbursement by the state as provided in ORS 476.550 and 476.560.