N.Y. Environmental Conservation Law § 9-1111: Forest fire protection

§ 9-1111. Forest fire protection.

1. Towns adjacent to fire towns and fire districts. The department may

when necessary in its judgment, in order to protect the forests in the

fire towns and fire districts from fire, take steps to extinguish fires

actually burning in any town adjacent to a fire town or district.

2. Impressing fire fighting assistance. Any department employee or any

other officer charged by the department with the duty of fire fighting

shall, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary

or in conflict herewith, have the power to summon and hire for the

purpose of fighting fires any person who shall have attained sixteen

years of age, and to incur other expenses deemed necessary to the

extinguishment of particular fires.

3. Additional protection by towns in Suffolk county. Any town in the

county of Suffolk may appropriate not exceeding the sum of one thousand

dollars in any one year without the vote of town meeting for the purpose

of purchasing equipment and establishing fire patrols for the prevention

of forest fires within any such town. The patrols and equipment shall be

under the direction and supervision of the town board. Moneys

appropriated pursuant to this subdivision shall be assessed, levied and

collected in the same manner as moneys for other town charges are

assessed, levied and collected.