California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from Neighbarger v. Irwin Industries, Inc., 14 Cal.App.4th 1721, 18 Cal.Rptr.2d 449 (Cal. App. 1993):
"The fireman's rule is primarily based on the principle of law denominated assumption of risk. That principle holds that 'one who has knowingly and voluntarily confronted a hazard cannot recover for injuries sustained thereby.' " (Lipson v. Superior Court (1982) 31 Cal.3d 362, 370, 182 Cal.Rptr. 629, 644 P.2d 822.) "As many other jurisdictions and legal commentators have recognized, a fireman does not assume every possible risk he may encounter while engaged in his occupation. [Citations.] A fireman assumes only those hazards which are known or can reasonably be anticipated at the site of the fire." (Id. at p. 371, 182 Cal.Rptr. 629, 644 P.2d 822.)
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