§ 2643. Town’s liability for suppression of forest fires; State aid
(a) A municipality in which a forest fire occurs shall pay the cost to suppress a forest fire that occurs on land that is not owned by the Agency of Natural Resources, including the costs of personnel and equipment. The Commissioner may, when funds have been appropriated or are otherwise available, reimburse a municipality for all or a portion of the costs of suppressing a forest fire on land that is not owned by the Agency of Natural Resources.
(b) For the purpose of suppressing forest fires on lands owned by the Agency of Natural Resources, the State may reimburse a municipality or unorganized town or gore for some or all its forest fire suppression costs at a rate determined by the Commissioner if, at a minimum, the requirements in subsection (c) of this section are satisfied. The Commissioner may establish additional requirements and guidance regarding reimbursement.
(c) For any forest fire on lands owned by the Agency of Natural Resources to be considered eligible for reimbursement from the State, a municipality, unorganized town, or gore shall, at a minimum, satisfy the following requirements:
(1) The town forest fire warden of a municipality, unorganized town, or gore shall request assistance within one hour after discovery of the forest fire from the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation Wildland Fire Team, for the suppression of the forest fire on land owned by the Agency of Natural Resources.
(2) The town forest fire warden shall submit a report of the forest fire to the Commissioner within 24 hours after extinguishment of the fire as required under section 2644 of this title.
(3) The municipality, unorganized town, or gore shall submit detailed documentation of the costs of suppression of the forest fire to the Commissioner within 60 days after extinguishment of the forest fire.
(4) The Commissioner shall review and approve the request for reimbursement.
(d) For requests for reimbursement approved by the Commissioner for forest fire suppression costs of a municipality, unorganized town, or gore on land owned by the Agency of Natural Resources, payment of the costs shall be made by the Commissioner of Finance and Management to the municipality, unorganized town, or gore. The funds for the payment are to be taken from the appropriation for forest fire suppression. (Added 1977, No. 253 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2015, No. 171 (Adj. Sess.), § 11; 2025, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 8, eff. July 1, 2026.)