Members of any qualified fire department may participate in distribution of the Firefighters Relief Fund.
K.S.A. 40-1701 defines association as follows:
"Firefighters relief association" or "firemen's relief association" means an association incorporated under the laws of this state composed of members of a fire department which is (1) a public fire department under the control of the governing body of an incorporated city, township, county or fire district or (2) a private fire department operated by a not-for-profit corporation which provides all of the fire protection services for an incorporated city, township, county or fire district pursuant to a contract with the governing body thereof, and which in either case has fire apparatus and necessary equipment therefor that is in serviceable condition for fire duty and has a value of $5,000 or more .
In addition, each firefighters relief association shall prepare and file with the commissioner a plat drawn to scale showing the area provided fire protection service by the fire department of the firefighters relief association and the location of each fire department house. No such plan shall include any part of any area served by another fire department.