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                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5442

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                                                   Passed Legislature - 1987 Reg. - Governor Vetoed

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Senator Barr

Read first time 1/29/87 and referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

AN ACT Relating to forest fires; and adding a new section to chapter 76.04 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 76.04 RCW to read as follows:

          Upon arriving at the scene of a forest fire, the employees or agents of the department shall have the first priority to attempt to extinguish the fire, and attempts to conduct a survey of contiguous property to ascertain the necessity to remove individuals or property from the area of the fire shall be secondary to that responsibility:  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That this requirement does not mean that individuals in immediate danger from the fire may not be assisted.

                                                                                                                          Passed the Senate March 10, 1987.

                                                                                                                                       President of the Senate.

                                                                                                                             Passed the House April 9, 1987.

                                                                                                                                         Speaker of the House.