(a)

(1) Pursuant to § 14-284-201(a)(2), in any area in any county in which there is no rural volunteer fire department or fire protection district which qualifies for funds under the provisions of this subchapter, the quorum court is authorized, in its discretion and with the approval of the Arkansas Fire Protection Services Board, to designate any unincorporated area of the county to be served by a municipal fire department, if approved by the governing authorities of the municipality.

(2)

(A) In addition to funds the municipality is otherwise entitled to under this subchapter, the municipality serving any such designated area shall receive the funds that the rural volunteer fire department or fire protection district would have been eligible to receive.

(B) The funds shall be used by the municipality to provide training, to purchase equipment necessary to provide fire protection in the designated unincorporated area in compliance with this subchapter, to purchase insurance for buildings, or to pay utility costs.

(b)

(1) No municipality shall receive funds under this subchapter unless it is willing to provide fire protection through mutual aid agreements in areas within five (5) miles of its corporate limits.

(2) A municipality shall not be required to respond when, in the opinion of proper municipal authorities, its municipal property or fire classification rating would be jeopardized.

(c)

(1) A rural volunteer fire department or fire protection district that qualifies for funds under this subchapter and that provides fire protection services in two (2) or more counties shall be eligible to receive moneys from each of the counties under § 14-284-403(a)(2).

(2) The county quorum court of each county shall apportion the funds to the fire departments or districts eligible under this subsection in accordance with § 14-284-403(a)(2).