Chapter 143 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting a new section 12A.

Cities, towns and fire districts may, by ordinance or by-law, or by vote of the board of aldermen, selectmen or of the prudential committee or board exercising similar powers, authorize their respective inspector of plumbing or gas fitting inspectors to go to aid another city, town, or area under federal jurisdiction in this commonwealth or in any adjoining state in conducting inspections therein, or rendering any other emergency aid or performing any detail as ordered by the building commissioner, town manager, or mayor, or the Massachusetts military reservation and while in the performance of their duties in extending such aid the members of such departments shall have the same immunities and privileges as if performing the same within their respective cities, towns or districts. Any such ordinance, by-law or vote may authorize the head of the plumbing and gas fitting department to extend such aid, subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be prescribed therein. The words ''plumbing and gas fitting'' as used in this section shall mean lawfully organized plumbing and gas fitting inspectors, however constituted.

During the course of rendering such aid to another municipality, the municipality rendering aid shall be responsible for the operation of its equipment and for any damage thereto, and, subject to the limitations of municipal liability, for personal injury sustained or caused by a member of its plumbing and gas fitting personnel, and for any payments which it is required to make to a member of said department or to his widow or other dependents on account of injuries or death, notwithstanding paragraph (b) of subdivision (4) of section seven of chapter thirty-two, unless such municipalities have a written agreement to the contrary.