City of Burlington v. Industrial Commission of Wisconsin

The facts are not in dispute. The defendant Pieters was an automobile salesman earning $40 a week and residing in Burlington. For a number of years he had been, and was at the time of his injury, a member of the volunteer fire department of the city. The members of the department responded to calls. The chief and one or two others were the only regular employees. The volunteer fire*537men received no regular pay, but they received an average of about $12 a year.

In May, 1925, Pieters received a telephone call at his home, notifying him of a fire, and he immediately reported to the fire station,…