§ 2-12-21. Collection of fire suppression charges.
(a) In lieu of any civil action that may be brought for the payment to the state or fire company for expenses incurred by a fire chief or senior officer, or authorized forest fire official in attending and suppressing a forest fire, the director of the department of environmental management, or his or her authorized representative, or the fire company jurisdiction or fire district in which the fire occurs, may submit to and collect from the person, firm, corporation or public agency causing the fire all charges for forest fire suppression costs. In the event those charges are submitted by a fire company or fire district to collect for suppression costs to any person, firm, corporation or public agency causing the fire, no payment shall be made by the state to the fire company or fire district as provided in §§ 2-11-6, 2-12-6 and 2-12-16. Within seven (7) days after the date of the fire, any fire chief of a fire company or fire district affected shall notify the director of the department of environmental management of his or her intention to submit suppression charges to any person, firm or corporation.
(b) All suppression charges recovered by the department of environmental management shall be turned over to the general treasurer for the use of the state and a proper record shall be made of these suppression charges recovered.
History of Section.G.L. 1956, § 2-12-21; P.L. 1970, ch. 124, § 4.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 2 - Agriculture and Forestry
Chapter 2-12 - Forest Fires and Prevention
Section 2-12-1. - Definitions.
Section 2-12-2. - Fire fighting equipment.
Section 2-12-3. - Lookout stations and appropriations.
Section 2-12-4. - Conferences of fire chiefs and senior officers.
Section 2-12-5. - Rules and regulations.
Section 2-12-6. - Restrictions on open air fires.
Section 2-12-7. - Exemption of attended fires.
Section 2-12-8. - Enforcement.
Section 2-12-9. - Causing of fires.
Section 2-12-10. - Fire upon land of another — Penalty — Liability for damages.
Section 2-12-11. - Fire fighting by fire chiefs and senior officers — Summons of assistance.
Section 2-12-12. - Posting of statutory provisions.
Section 2-12-13. - Proclamation of hazardous conditions — Closing of forests.
Section 2-12-14. - Closing of fishing and hunting seasons during drought.
Section 2-12-15. - Emergency powers of director.
Section 2-12-16. - Compensation of emergency fire fighters.
Section 2-12-17. - Right of fire fighters and officials to enter land.
Section 2-12-18. - Disposition of fines — Limitation of prosecutions.
Section 2-12-19. - Enforcement and prosecutions.