TITLE 2

Agriculture and Forestry

CHAPTER 2-12

Forest Fires and Prevention

SECTION 2-12-3



   § 2-12-3  Lookout stations and

appropriations. –

(a)(1) For the purpose of protecting the forests from fire, the director of

environmental management may expend, within the amount appropriated, a sum

sufficient to establish, equip and maintain lookout stations, may purchase or

lease necessary land and purchase material, contract for the construction of

lookout stations, employ a watcher at each station established during those

periods in each year that the director may deem advisable, and shall fix the

rate per hour for those services. The watchers shall at all times, during their

employment, be subject to the control of the director.



   (2) The director of environmental management may cooperate in

forest protection and may enter into agreements with other states, groups of

states and the federal government to provide assistance and accept assistance

in the control of fires which may include training of personnel. Any employee

of the department of environmental management assigned to fire control duties

or training programs outside this state shall be considered the same as working

inside this state for the purpose of compensation and other employee benefits.



   (b) The general assembly shall annually appropriate, out of

any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, in addition to any other

moneys appropriated for this purpose, any sum as it may deem necessary to be

expended under the direction of the department of environmental management for

the purpose of providing for keeping open and operating the forest fire towers

in this state throughout twelve (12) months of each year and the state

controller is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the

general treasurer for the payment of that sum, or so much as may be required

from time to time, upon the receipt by him or her of proper vouchers approved

by the director of environmental management, provided that authority is given

to the director of environmental management to utilize the services of the

personnel assigned to the operation of forest fire towers for other phases of

the forestry, parks and parkways program, whenever, in his or her discretion,

because of certain seasonal weather conditions, forest fire towers are not

required to be staffed with a full complement of personnel.



History of Section.

(G.L. 1956, § 2-12-3; P.L. 1970, ch. 124, § 4; P.L. 1972, ch. 80,

§ 1.)