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Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73not60

§1856 Definitions

Title 42 › Chapter 15A— RECIPROCAL FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENTS › Subchapter I— PROTECTION OF UNITED STATES PROPERTY › § 1856

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines three key words used in this part. "Agency head" means the leader of a federal department, military department, agency, or independent federal office. "Fire protection" covers the people, equipment, and services used to prevent and fight fires, protect lives and property, and handle emergencies — including basic and advanced medical aid, hazardous material control, and special rescues like vehicle, water, trench, building, and confined-space extractions. "Fire organization" means any government body or public or private group that runs fire-protection facilities in the United States, its territories and possessions, or near U.S. installations overseas.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §1856

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

As used in this subchapter—
(a)The term “agency head” means the head of any executive department, military department, agency, or independent establishment in the executive branch of the Government;
(b)The term “fire protection” includes personal services and equipment required for fire prevention, the protection of life and property from fire,,11 So in original. fire fighting, and emergency services, including basic medical support, basic and advanced life support, hazardous material containment and confinement, and special rescue events involving vehicular and water mishaps, and trench, building, and confined space extractions; and
(c)The term “fire organization” means any governmental entity or public or private corporation or association maintaining fire protection facilities within the United States, its Territories and possessions, and any governmental entity or public or private corporation or association which maintains fire protection facilities in any foreign country in the vicinity of any installation of the United States.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2006—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–163 substituted “, fire fighting, and emergency services, including basic medical support, basic and advanced life support, hazardous material containment and confinement, and special rescue events involving vehicular and water mishaps, and trench, building, and confined space extractions” for “and fire fighting”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 1856

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60