The bill amends Section 76-13-115 of the Montana Code Annotated to revise the state fire policy concerning the responsibilities of state and local fire protection entities. It emphasizes the importance of public and firefighter safety during wildfire suppression, the need for interagency cooperation, and the necessity of fire prevention and hazard reduction. A significant addition to the policy is the stipulation that the department has a duty to engage in wildfire suppression activities regardless of land ownership if federal suppression efforts within five miles are deemed inconsistent with existing regulations.

Additionally, the bill authorizes the department to bill the responsible federal fire protection agency for costs incurred during suppression activities when appropriate. This change aims to ensure that the financial burden of wildfire suppression is shared and that state and county resources are adequately compensated for their efforts. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 76-13-115
HB0130_1(1): 76-13-115
HB0130_1(2): 76-13-115
HB0130_1(3): 76-13-115
HB0130_1(4): 76-13-115
HB0130_1(5): 76-13-115
HB0130_1(6): 76-13-115
HB0130_1(7): 76-13-115
HB0130_1: 76-13-115
HB0130_2(1): 76-13-115
HB0130_2(10): 76-13-115
HB0130_2(2): 76-13-115
HB0130_2(3): 76-13-115
HB0130_2(4): 76-13-115
HB0130_2(5): 76-13-115
HB0130_2(6): 76-13-115
HB0130_2(7): 76-13-115
HB0130_2(8): 76-13-115
HB0130_2(9): 76-13-115
HB0130_2: 76-13-115
HB0130_X(1): 76-13-115
HB0130_X(2): 76-13-115
HB0130_X(3): 76-13-115
HB0130_X(4): 76-13-115
HB0130_X(5): 76-13-115
HB0130_X: 76-13-115