REMSED FIRE LAWS FOR TOWNS. 



It was apparent to the members of the Legislature of 1909 

 that some changes were necessary in the law applying to the 

 protection and prevention of forest fires in incorporated towns. 

 Under the law existing previous to 1909 while the selectmen 

 were the forest fire wardens of the town, there was lack of a 

 penalty in the law which allowed for the shifting of responsi- 

 bility from one member of the board to another. 



Under the new law a town is liable for the negligence of its 

 selectmen to give proper attention to forest fires within the 

 borders of the town. In cities the responsibility is placed upon 

 the chief engineers of the fire department. 



Sections of the new law as amended follow : 



'Sec. 52. The selectmen of towns shall be forest fire wardens 

 therein, and the services of such selectmen acting as said tire wardens, 

 shall be paid for at the same rate as is paid for their other official services. 

 It shall be the duty of the fire wardens when a fire is discovered to 

 take such measures as may be necessary for its control and extin- 

 guishment. For this purpose they shall have authority to call upon 

 any person in the town for assistance, and such persons shall receive 

 such compensation, not exceeding twenty cents per hour, as said se- 

 lectmen may determine, the same to be paid by the town. But no town 

 shall be holden to pay for extinguishing forest fires in any year an 

 amount greater than two per cent upon its valuation for purposes of 

 taxation. If any person so ordered to assist and not excused from said 

 service by said forest fire wardens on account of sickness, disability, 

 or some important business or engagement, shall neglect to comply 

 with any such order he shall forfeit the sum of ten dollars, to be re- 

 covered in action of debt in the name and to the use of the town, by 

 the treasurer thereof. If any person shall suffer damage from fire in 

 consequence of the negligence or neglect of the selectmen of any 

 town to perform the duties required by this act, such person shall have 

 an action on the case to recover from the town where the fire occurs 

 to the amount of his damages so sustained not to exceed two per cent 

 of the valuation of said town. This act shall also apply to cities. The 

 chief engineer of the fire department of cities shall be forest fire wardens 

 and shall have the same powers and duties in carrying out the provisions 

 of this act as selectmen of towns.' 



