The Shelby County Board may form, manage, fund, and operate a volunteer rescue squad to provide assistance within Shelby County to any public entity providing law enforcement, firefighting, emergency disaster response, or first responder services. The volunteer rescue squad may (i) locate missing persons, including drowning victims, (ii) perform a supporting, and not direct, role in fighting fires, and (iii) extricate persons from unsafe conditions. The Shelby County Board may provide benefits for rescue squad volunteers who suffer disease, injury, or death in the line of duty.
55 ILCS 5/5-1189