(a) As used in this section, the term “fire control or fire rescue equipment” includes, but is not limited to, a motor vehicle, fire fighting tools, protective gear, breathing equipment, and other vehicles, supplies, and tools used in fire fighting or fire rescue.
(b) Any person, corporation, partnership, association, or governmental entity may donate or give away used or obsolete fire control or fire rescue equipment to the Alabama Forestry Commission for its use or for distribution to certified volunteer fire departments. Any person, corporation, partnership, association, or governmental entity that donates fire control or fire rescue equipment shall not be liable for civil damages for personal injury, property damage, or death resulting from a defect in the equipment, if the property was donated in good faith and the defect was unknown to the person making the donation. The Alabama Forestry Commission and its commissioners and other officers and employees shall not be liable for civil damages for personal injury, property damage, or death resulting from a defect in equipment sold, loaned, donated, or otherwise made available in good faith by the commission to certified volunteer fire departments pursuant to this section. A breathing apparatus that is donated to the commission shall be recertified to the manufacturer’s specifications by a technician certified by the manufacturer before it is made available to a volunteer fire department. Any cost incurred by the commission in recertifying a breathing apparatus shall be reimbursed to the commission by the volunteer fire department which received the breathing apparatus.