1. Administrative units. The director shall have the authority to divide the State into administrative units so as to most effectively provide for protection against loss or damage by forest fires. [PL 1979, c. 545, §3 (NEW).] 2. Equipment. The director may establish lookout stations connected by telephone and radio, and construct, equip and maintain office-storehouse headquarters for necessary supplies, tools and equipment and provide for any other facilities essential for forest fire control. All fire lookout towers must be staffed during periods of fire danger. The director shall notify the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over energy and natural resources and appropriations and financial affairs in writing prior to implementing any major policy changes in the operation and staffing of the fire lookout tower system. Within the unorganized territory, the director may, in addition to this subsection, construct and maintain roads and trails. In the event the director determines that any currently active fire tower should not be reopened for the subsequent fire season, the director shall provide notice to the Legislature of intended action by January 15th. This notice must include the location of the fire towers affected and the justifications for the closures. Notice of closures must be reviewed by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources. Unless the Legislature determines otherwise, the director may close towers so indicated. If any fire tower is not reopened, the department shall work closely with the municipality in which the fire tower is located to minimize the impact that action will have on the municipality's responsibility to control forest fires. [PL 1991, c. 9, Pt. Y, §2 (AMD).] 3. Contingency. If the funds available for forest fire control are not sufficient to meet actual suppression costs in any year, the Governor may make additional funds available from the treasury not otherwise appropriated. [RR 2011, c. 2, §11 (COR).]
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