international firefighter cooperative agreements

international firefighter cooperative agreementsSec. 412. In entering into agreements with foreign fire organizations pursuant to the Temporary Emergency Wildfire Suppression Act (42 U.S.C. 1856m–1856o), the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior are authorized to enter into reciprocal agreements in which the individuals furnished under said agreements to provide wildfire services are considered, for purposes of tort liability, employees of the fire organization receiving said services when the individuals are engaged in fire suppression or presuppression: Provided, That the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior shall not enter into any agreement under this provision unless the foreign fire organization agrees to assume any and all liability for the acts or omissions of American firefighters engaged in fire suppression or presuppression in a foreign country: Provided further, That when an agreement is reached for furnishing fire suppression or presuppression services, the only remedies for acts or omissions committed while engaged in fire suppression or presuppression shall be those provided under the laws applicable to the fire organization receiving the fire suppression or presuppression services, and those remedies shall be the exclusive remedies for any claim arising out of fire suppression or presuppression activities in a foreign country: Provided further, That neither the sending country nor any legal organization associated with the firefighter shall be subject to any legal action, consistent with the applicable laws governing sovereign immunity, pertaining to or arising out of the firefighter’s role in fire suppression or presuppression, except that if the foreign fire organization is unable to provide immunity under laws applicable to it, it shall assume any and all liability for the United States or for any legal organization associated with the American firefighter, and for any and all costs incurred or assessed, including legal fees, for any act or omission pertaining to or arising out of the firefighter’s role in fire suppression or presuppression.