Subdivision 1. Local cooperation. The commissioner shall cooperate with the state highway authorities and with the supervising officers of the various towns and cities in the construction of firebreaks along section lines and public highways.
Subd. 2. Firebreak authorization. All cities in the state situated in any wildfire area are hereby authorized to clear off all combustible material and debris and create at least two good and sufficient firebreaks of not less than ten feet in width each, which shall completely encircle such municipalities at a distance of not less than 20 rods apart, between which backfires may be set or a stand made to fight wildfires in cases of emergency.
Subd. 3. Local responsibility; tax. All towns and cities shall take necessary precautions to prevent the starting and spreading of wildfires and to extinguish them. They may levy a tax annually on all taxable property in the city or town. The tax when collected shall be known as the fire fund and kept separate from all other funds and used only to pay all necessary and incidental expenses incurred in enforcing the provisions of sections 88.03 to 88.22. Up to $500 shall be expended in any one year from any such fire fund for the support of any municipal fire department. No municipality shall make any levy for its fire fund at any time when the fund contains $5,000 or more, including cash on hand and uncollected taxes that are not delinquent.
Subd. 4. General supervision. In all towns constituted within any of the wildfire protection districts which may be established by the commissioner, the respective town and city officers and employees shall cooperate with, and be under the general supervision and direction of, the commissioner.
(4031-11) 1925 c 407 s 11; 1949 c 676 s 1; 1967 c 146 s 2; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7; 1973 c 773 s 1; 1989 c 277 art 4 s 5; 1993 c 328 s 11; 1994 c 505 art 3 s 2
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry
Section 88.02 — Citation; Wildfire Act.
Section 88.04 — Firebreaks; Preventing Fires.
Section 88.041 — Agreements To Prevent And Suppress Wildfires.
Section 88.05 — Roadsides; Clearing; Firebreaks.
Section 88.06 — Removing Dead Or Down Timber.
Section 88.065 — Equipment Furnished.
Section 88.067 — Grants To Local Fire Departments.
Section 88.068 — Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Account.
Section 88.08 — Wildfire Protection Districts.
Section 88.09 — Acquiring Land For Fire Protection.
Section 88.10 — Authority Of State Forest Officers.
Section 88.11 — Assistance For Fighting Fires.
Section 88.12 — Compensating Wildfire Fighters; Emergency Expenses.
Section 88.14 — Disposal Of Slashings And Debris.
Section 88.16 — Starting And Reporting Fires.
Section 88.17 — Permission To Start Fires; Prosecution For Unlawfully Starting Fires.
Section 88.171 — Open Burning Prohibitions.
Section 88.20 — Railroad Companies To Provide Patrol Officers.
Section 88.21 — Railroads; Duties; Penalties.
Section 88.22 — Wildfire Prevention; Restrictions And Penalties.
Section 88.28 — Law Divided Into Parts.
Section 88.29 — County Boards; Jurisdiction, Powers.
Section 88.30 — Clearing And Improving Lands.
Section 88.31 — Surveys And Plats.
Section 88.32 — Appraisers; Assessing Benefits And Damages; Statements And Reports.
Section 88.33 — Hearings; Notice; Service; Date; Adjournments.
Section 88.34 — Hearing On Petition; Elimination Of Lands.
Section 88.35 — Rereference Of Petition.
Section 88.36 — Order For Improvements.
Section 88.37 — Appeals From Orders For Improvements.
Section 88.38 — Contracts For Improvements; Duties Of County Auditor; Seeding Of Cleared Lands.
Section 88.39 — Work Of Improvement; Duties Of Engineers; Payments To Contractors.
Section 88.40 — Bond Issues To Pay For Improvements.
Section 88.41 — County Auditors; Tabular Statements; Powers And Duties.
Section 88.42 — Improvements By Towns And Cities; Limitation Of Indebtedness.
Section 88.43 — Firebreaks; Clearing Lands.
Section 88.44 — Acquiring Property.
Section 88.45 — Municipalities To Cooperate.
Section 88.46 — Laws Applicable.
Section 88.491 — Expired Contracts.
Section 88.51 — Auxiliary Forests; Tax Rate, Special Taxes.
Section 88.52 — Cutting Timber; Taxation.
Section 88.523 — Auxiliary Forest Contracts; Supplemental Agreements.
Section 88.53 — Disposal After Land Ceases To Be Auxiliary Forest; Rules.
Section 88.642 — Decorative Materials.
Section 88.6435 — Decorative Materials; Buyers.
Section 88.647 — Relation To Existing Laws.
Section 88.648 — Criminal Penalties; Misdemeanor.
Section 88.73 — Administration; Delegated Powers And Duties.
Section 88.75 — Violations; Penalties.
Section 88.77 — Disposition Of Fines And Penalties.
Section 88.79 — State Forest Service To Private Owners.
Section 88.80 — Aspen Recycling Program.