An employer with 20 or more full-time equivalent employees may not discharge from employment or discipline a volunteer firefighter because of leave taken related to an alarm of fire or an emergency call. 

The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) must investigate complaints filed by volunteer firefighters of alleged violations of these protections.  If L&I determines a violation occurred, the volunteer firefighter may bring an action against the employer for reinstatement or withdrawal of the disciplinary action, including back pay. 

For the purposes of these provisions, a volunteer firefighter is a firefighter who:

• is not paid;
• is not already at their place of employment when called to serve as a volunteer, unless the employer agrees to provide such accommodation; and
• has been ordered to remain at their position by the commanding authority at the scene of the fire.

The definition of volunteer firefighter is modified for the purposes of employment protections.

A volunteer firefighter is a firefighter covered under the Volunteer Firefighters' and Reserve Officers' Pension and Relief System who:

• voluntarily performs, regardless of reimbursement, any assigned or authorized duties on behalf of, or at the direction of, a firefighting or emergency response unit of a city, county, fire district, regional fire protection district, port district, or the state, including service performed under the state fire service mobilization plan; and either
• has notified their employer of their firefighter status and intent to serve as a volunteer if already at the place of employment when called to serve as a volunteer; or
• if not already at the place of employment when called to serve as a volunteer, has been ordered to remain at their position by the commanding authority at the scene of the fire.

Provisions requiring a firefighter to be unpaid and not already at their place of employment are removed.