Subdivision 1. Limitation. The compensation and expenses of persons temporarily employed in emergencies in suppression or control of wildfires shall be fixed by the commissioner of natural resources or an authorized agent and paid as provided by law. Such compensation shall not exceed the maximum rate for comparable labor established as provided by law or rules, but shall not be subject to any minimum rate so established. The commissioner is authorized to draw and expend from money appropriated for the purposes of sections 88.03 to 88.22 a reasonable sum and through forest officers or other authorized agent be used in paying emergency expenses, including just compensation for services rendered by persons summoned and for private property used, damaged, or appropriated under sections 88.03 to 88.22. The commissioner of management and budget is authorized to issue a payment for this sum when duly approved by the commissioner. The commissioner or agent in charge shall take proper subvouchers or receipts from all persons to whom these moneys are paid, and after these subvouchers have been approved they shall be filed with the commissioner of management and budget. Authorized funds as herein provided at any time shall be deposited, subject to withdrawal or disbursement by check or otherwise for the purposes herein prescribed, in a bank authorized and bonded to receive state deposits; and the bond of this bank to the state shall cover and include this deposit.
Subd. 2. Contracts for services; commissions to persons employed. The commissioner is hereby authorized and empowered to contract for or accept the services of any and all persons whose aid is available, temporarily or otherwise, in forestry or wildfire prevention work, either gratuitously or for compensation not in excess of the limits provided by law with respect to the employment of labor by the commissioner. At the request of another emergency response agency, trained forestry wildfire fighting resources may be used to support search and rescue operations. The commissioner may issue a commission, or other written evidence of authority, to any such person whose services are so arranged for; and may thereby empower such person to act, temporarily or otherwise, as fire warden, or in any other capacity, with such powers and duties as may be specified in the commission or other written evidence of authority, but not in excess of the powers conferred by law on forest officers.
(4031-17, 4031-17a) 1925 c 407 s 17; 1927 c 280 s 1; 1955 c 218 s 1; 1967 c 146 s 9; 1969 c 1129 art 10 s 2; 1973 c 492 s 14; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1986 c 444; 1993 c 328 s 21; 2000 c 495 s 8; 2009 c 101 art 2 s 109; 1Sp2019 c 10 art 3 s 18
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.