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1 SEC. 9. In order to bring about systematic forest fire pre- 



2 vention throughout the state, the state forester may aid owners 



3 in the establishment on their lands of systems of fire protection, 



4 may prepare fire plans, may aid in the formation of fire pro- 



5 tective organizations, may take such action as is necessary to 



6 co-ordinate the fire protective systems of different owners, asso- 



7 ciations and agencies; may utilize the organization, facilities 



8 and equipment authorized under this act in the work of patrol, 



9 discovery, reporting and preventing forest [,] brush [or 



10 grass] fires, may supervise and direct the work of fire protec- 



11 tion and fire fighting, may purchase equipment and supplies 



12 necessary for fire prevention, and may, where the public 



13 interest requires and if funds are available, employ fire 



14 fighters and incur such other expenses as may be necessary to 



15 protect life and property in a fire emergency, the cost thereof 



16 to be paid from the appropriation for the board of forestry. 



17 The state forester is authorized, with the approval of the state 



18 board of control and under such terms as he may deem wise, to 



19 enter into agreements with persons, firms, associations, or cor- 



20 porations owning or controlling forest, brush or grass lands, 



21 or with any other agency interested in the [prevention] 



22 and suppression of forest fires, or with any combination or 



23 groups of such persons, firms, associations, corporations or 



24 agencies, for the purpose of co-operation in the employment 



25 of men and facilities, and for taking other measures for 



26 prevention and control of forest, brush or grass fires. The 



27 state shall not, however, pay more than one third of the 



28 expense incurred for said protection. The state forester is 



29 further empowered, with the approval of the state board of 



30 control, to enter into agreements with the federal government, 



31 with counties, with towns or municipalities, upon such terms 



32 as may be deemed advisable, or may be provided by law, for 



33 the purpose of co-operating in the prevention and suppression 



34 of forest fires. All sums chargeable to the state on account of 



35 any co-operative agreement as provided in this section shall be 



36 paid from the appropriation for the support of the board of 



37 forestry. 



