39-A M.R.S. §112: Workers' compensation coverage for forest firefighters

Notwithstanding Title 12, section 8901, subsection 2 and Title 12, sections 8902, 8905, 9201, 9202, 9204 and 9205, workers' compensation coverage is provided to forest fire wardens and laborers hired by municipalities for forest fire-fighting activities as follows.

1. Municipal responsibility. The municipality is responsible for workers' compensation costs for injuries that occur while the municipality is in actual control of forest fire-fighting activities.

2. State responsibility. The State is responsible for workers' compensation costs for injuries that occur while the State is in actual control of forest fire-fighting activities.

For purposes of this section, "actual control" means on-site supervisory responsibility for the entire command structure directing forest fire-fighting activities at the fire scene. A municipality is assumed to be in actual control until the State accepts or takes actual control.