Forest fire-fighting equipment fund

(a) Definitions. "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Environmental Protection or his designated representative. "Forest fire" means any fire within one hundred (100) feet of woodland, brushland or area containing dried grass that is adjacent to any woodland or brushland. (b) Items available for purchase, by local fire companies through the forest firefighting equipment fund will be restricted to equipment used primarily in fighting forest fires, as determined by the State Forest Fire Warden, and shall include, but not be limited to: (1) Hoses – synthetic (weeping) self-protecting; (2) Backpack pumps – galvanized; (3) Fire rakes; (4) Brooms – (forest fire types); (5) Shovels; (6) Nozzles – (forest fire types); (7) Axes – (forest fire types). (c) The Commissioner or his representative may sell such equipment to any fire company that may be called upon to fight forest fires. Each interested fire company shall, on a form prescribed by the Commissioner, demonstrate a need for such equipment. Need shall be based on, but not be limited to, the following factors: (1) the number of brush, grass or woods fires which occurred within the preceding calendar year; (2) the equipment presently available for fighting forest fires; (3) the date and type of forest fire-fighting equipment last purchased; (d) The amount paid by the fire company for such equipment shall be the approximate cost of the equipment to the Commissioner. (1) Payment shall be made by check or money order payable to the Department of Environmental Protection, Fire Fund. (2) Payment will be required and all necessary paperwork must be completed before delivery will be made. (e) Fire companies will be periodically polled regarding requests for future purchases by the Commissioner. (1) On a form prescribed by the Commissioner, fire companies may indicate, by priority, other forest fire-fighting equipment they are interested in acquiring. (2) The State shall prepare a list, based on responses from polled fire companies, of equipment to be considered for purchase by the Commissioner in the future. (f) Items available for purchase will be for sale to local fire companies for their use only and not for resale.