HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 5442

BYSenator Barr

Requiring department of natural resources to extinguish forest fires as a first priority.

House Committe on Natural Resources

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (15)

      Signed by Representatives Sutherland, Chair; K. Wilson, Vice Chair; Amondson, Basich, Beck, Belcher, Bumgarner, Cole, Fuhrman, Hargrove, Haugen, Meyers, C. Smith, Spanel and S. Wilson.

House Staff:Bill Koss (786-7129)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 9, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is responsible for preventing and suppressing fires on state and private forest lands.  The DNR's mandate is to suppress forest fires.  This mandate includes all activities involved in the containment and control of forest fires including patrolling such fires until they are extinguished and pose no further threat to life or property.  This fire suppression mandate does not extend to structure fire suppression.

The DNR has found that although they do not fight structural fires, that forest fires in areas with residential development cause additional burdens and costs to their fire suppression activities.

SUMMARY:

The first priority of Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fire crews shall be to attempt to extinguish any forest fire.  The crews shall secondarily determine the necessity of removing individuals or property from the area of the fire.  The DNR crews still may assist those in immediate danger.

Fiscal Note:      No Impact.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Senator Barr, Prime Sponsor.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    This clarifies DNR's priorities.  It directs the department to allocate its firefighters in a way that protects the timber resources while still allowing the firefighters to protect lives and property when necessary.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.