(a)
(1) The uniformed force of the fire department shall be divided into two (2) platoons, the officers and members assigned to which shall alternate on tours of duty at intervals of not more than fifteen (15) days.
(2)
(A) The chief of the department shall arrange the working hours of the employees of the department so that each employee shall work, as nearly as practicable, an equal number of hours per month, not to exceed seventy-two (72) hours per week.
(B) At his or her discretion, the chief of the department may require in case of an epidemic, conflagration, or other emergency the employees for a greater period than provided in this section to continue on duty during the epidemic, conflagration, or other emergency.
(b)
(1) The uniformed force of fire departments in cities of Arkansas having a population of fifteen thousand (15,000) or more, according to the latest official federal census, shall be divided into platoons.
(2)
(A)
(i) The chief of the department in cities of this state affected by this subsection shall assign, as nearly as practicable, an equal number of employees of the department to each platoon so that each employee shall work, as nearly as practicable, an equal number of hours per month, not to exceed an average of fifty-six (56) hours per week for each period of three (3) weeks.
(ii) There shall be no reduction of salaries of employees of the departments because of the number of hours worked during each week as provided in this subsection.
(B) At his or her discretion in case of an epidemic, conflagration, or other emergency, the chief of the department may require the employee to continue on duty for a greater period than provided in this subsection during the epidemic, conflagration, or like emergency.