58 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 



CHANGE IN THE FIRE LAW 



In cases of emergency where forest fires are so 

 bad A that the local fire wardens are unable to control 

 them without the assistance of residents, and where 

 special fire wardens appointed on recommendation 

 of the town chairman by the State Forester, have 

 to take charge and call out helpers, it is important 

 that the men who fight fire be paid more promptly 

 than is possible under the present law which re- 

 quires the' approval of claims by county boards 

 which do not meet at all frequently. Many of the 

 men who are available to fight fires in forested 

 regions are only temporarily in the vicinity, or, if 

 there for longer time, are unwilling to fight fire 

 unless they are paid promptly. 



Therefore, it seems best to have such men paid 

 in the first instance by the State, which will then 

 collect one-half the expense from the county, instead 

 of having the payment made first by the county, 

 which then collects one-half from the State. The 

 State can make prompt payment and the county 

 cannot, if the approval of the county board is first 

 to be obtained. 



The following amendment does not make any 

 change in the amount of payment allowed or in 

 the ultimate source of such payment; it merely re- 

 verses the order of procedure, so as to secure prompt 

 payment, aud substitutes the joint approval of the 

 fire warden under whom service was performed and 

 of the state forester for the approval of the county 

 board. 



AMENDMENT TO SECTION 1494-48a. 



2. The fire wardens appointed by the state fire 

 warden shall prepare itemized accounts for their own 

 services and the services of their assistants, and no 

 account shall be paid until it has been approved 

 by the state fire warden, or assistant state fire war- 



