All persons providing voluntary service to a fire department, ambulance service, or rescue squad for any county, municipality, special purpose district, or township if regularly organized under the law shall be deemed employees of such county, municipality, special purpose district, or township while in the performance of their duties as members, if recommended by the person in charge to the governing body of such county, municipality, special purpose district, or township for membership and appointed by such governing body, and has not been removed by such governing body as members. For the purpose of computing compensation, the members shall be considered to be earning a wage that would entitle the members to the maximum compensation for death or injury allowable under this title. But in no event may payments to the members exceed the maximum limitations for benefits as set out in this title.
For purposes of determining compensation, any remuneration received by a member who voluntarily serves may not be considered.
SDCL 62-1-5