37-623.01

37-623.01. Forestry administrative districts; equipment and personnel

A. The state forester may establish state forestry administrative districts in all eligible areas of this state.

B. The state forester shall establish an equipment program in order to supply the forestry administrative districts. Equipment shall be supplied through both the federal excess property program and purchases of new equipment when warranted.

C. The state forester may hire both permanent and part-time personnel in each such district or other most practical area based upon need and workload.

D. The state forester may:

1. Hire personnel and rent equipment on a temporary basis in order to monitor and suppress wild land fires occurring on state and private lands within any of the forestry administrative districts.

2. Cooperate with other federal, state and local government agencies and any person to establish a reserve of personnel and equipment which may be utilized when needed to suppress wild land fires.

3. Adopt rules necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection which shall be exempt from existing advertising and certification procedures.