USA Statutes : washington
Title : Fire protection districts
Chapter : Powers -- Burning permits
RCW 52.12.031Specific powers Acquisition or lease of property or equipment Contracts Association of districts Group life insurance Building inspections Fire investigations.Any fire protection district organized under this title may:  (1) Lease, acquire, own, maintain, operate, and provide fire and emergency medical apparatus and all other necessary or proper facilities, machinery, and equipment for the prevention and suppression of fires, the providing of emergency medical services and the protection of life and property;  (2) Lease, acquire, own, maintain, and operate real property, improvements, and fixtures for housing, repairing, and maintaining the apparatus, facilities, machinery, and equipment described in subsection (1) of this section;  (3) Contract with any governmental entity under chapter 39.34 RCW or private person or entity to consolidate, provide, or cooperate for fire prevention protection, fire suppression, investigation, and emergency medical purposes. In so contracting, the district or governmental entity is deemed for all purposes to be acting within its governmental capacity. This contracting authority includes the furnishing of fire prevention, fire suppression, investigation, emergency medical services, facilities, and equipment to or by the district, governmental entity, or private person or entity;  (4) Encourage uniformity and coordination of fire protection district operations. The fire commissioners of fire protection districts may form an association to secure information of value in suppressing and preventing fires and other district purposes, to hold and attend meetings, and to promote more economical and efficient operation of the associated fire protection districts. The commissioners of fire protection districts in the association shall adopt articles of association or articles of incorporation for a nonprofit corporation, select a chairman, secretary, and other officers as they may determine, and may employ and discharge agents and employees as the officers deem convenient to carry out the purposes of the association. The expenses of the association may be paid from funds paid into the association by fire protection districts: PROVIDED, That the aggregate contributions made to the association by a district in a calendar year shall not exceed two and one-half cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation;  (5) Enter into contracts to provide group life insurance for the benefit of the personnel of the fire districts;  (6) Perform building and property inspections that the district deems necessary to provide fire prevention services and pre-fire planning within the district and any area that the district serves by contract in accordance with RCW 19.27.110: PROVIDED, That codes used by the district for building and property inspections shall be limited to the applicable codes adopted by the state, county, city, or town that has jurisdiction over the area in which the property is located. A copy of inspection reports prepared by the district shall be furnished by the district to the appropriate state, county, city, or town that has jurisdiction over the area in which the property is located: PROVIDED, That nothing in this subsection shall be construed to grant code enforcement authority to a district. This subsection shall not be construed as imposing liability on any governmental jurisdiction;  (7) Determine the origin and cause of fires occurring within the district and any area the district serves by contract. In exercising the authority conferred by this subsection, the fire protection district and its authorized representatives shall comply with the provisions of RCW 48.48.060;  (8) Perform acts consistent with this title and not otherwise prohibited by law.[1995 c 369 § 65; 1986 c 311 § 1; 1984 c 238 § 1; 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 48; 1963 c 101 § 1; 1959 c 237 § 2; 1947 c 254 § 6; 1941 c 70 § 4; 1939 c 34 § 20; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5654-120. Formerly RCW 52.08.030.]Notes:Effective date -- 1995 c 369: See note following RCW 43.43.930.Severability -- Effective dates and termination dates -- Construction -- 1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.Hospitalization and medical insurance authorized: RCW 41.04.180.Use of city fire apparatus beyond city limits: RCW 35.84.040. RCW 52.12.071Liability insurance for officials and employees.The board of commissioners of each fire district may purchase liability insurance with limits it deems reasonable for the purpose of protecting its officials and employees against liability for personal or bodily injuries and property damage arising from their acts or omissions while performing or in good faith purporting to perform their official duties.[1984 c 230 § 28; 1973 c 125 § 3. Formerly RCW 52.08.090.] RCW 52.12.101Burning permits authorized Resolution.In any district in which the commissioners have adopted and published a resolution assuming the authority of issuing burning permits, a person, firm, or corporation shall not start, permit, or cause to be started or permitted an open fire on any land within a fire protection district, without a written permit issued by the district under terms and conditions as the district establishes by resolution. A fire district shall not assume authority to issue a burning permit for a fire on any forest or cut over land, except as otherwise provided by law. A fire district shall have the authority to revoke a permit issued by the district for the protection of life or property or to prevent or abate the nuisances caused by such burning.[1987 c 21 § 1; 1984 c 229 § 1; 1947 c 254 § 20; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5654-151i. Formerly RCW 52.28.010.] RCW 52.12.011Status.Fire protection districts created under this title are political subdivisions of the state and shall be held to be municipal corporations within the laws and Constitution of the state of Washington. A fire protection district shall constitute a body corporate and possess all the usual powers of a corporation for public purposes as well as all other powers that may now or hereafter be specifically conferred by law.[1984 c 230 § 18; 1967 c 164 § 5; 1939 c 34 § 15; RRS § 5654-115. Formerly RCW 52.08.010.]Notes:Purpose -- Severability -- 1967 c 164: See notes following RCW 4.96.010.Tortious conduct of political subdivisions, municipal corporations, and quasi municipal corporations, liability for damages: Chapter 4.96 RCW. RCW 52.12.021General powers.Fire protection districts have full authority to carry out their purposes and to that end may acquire, purchase, hold, lease, manage, occupy, and sell real and personal property, or any interest therein, to enter into and to perform any and all necessary contracts, to appoint and employ the necessary officers, agents, and employees, to sue and be sued, to exercise the right of eminent domain, to levy and enforce the collection of assessments and special taxes in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in this title against the lands within the district for district revenues, and to do any and all lawful acts required and expedient to carry out the purpose of this title.[1984 c 230 § 19; 1939 c 34 § 16; RRS § 5654-116. Formerly RCW 52.08.020.] RCW 52.12.041Eminent domain.The taking and damaging of property or property rights by a fire protection district to carry out the purposes of its organization are declared to be for a public use. A district organized under this title may exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire property or property rights either inside or outside the district, for the use of the district. A district exercising the power of eminent domain shall proceed in the name of the district in the manner provided by law for the appropriation of real property or of real property rights by private corporations.[1984 c 230 § 20; 1939 c 34 § 18; RRS § 5654-118. Formerly RCW 52.08.040.]Notes:Eminent domain: State Constitution Art. 1 § 16 (Amendment 9); chapter 8.20 RCW. RCW 52.12.051Condemnation proceedings.A fire protection district may unite in a single action, proceedings to condemn property which is held by separate owners. Two or more condemnation suits instituted separately may also, in the discretion of the court, upon a motion of an interested party, be consolidated into a single action. In these cases, the jury shall render separate verdicts for each tract of land in different ownership. A finding of the jury or decree of the court as to damages shall not in any manner be construed to abridge or destroy the right of the district to levy and collect taxes for district purposes against the uncondemned land situated within the district. The title acquired by a fire protection district in condemnation proceedings shall be the fee simple title or a lesser estate as designated in the decree of appropriation.[1984 c 230 § 21; 1939 c 34 § 19; RRS § 5654-119. Formerly RCW 52.08.050.] RCW 52.12.061Contracts, promissory notes, deeds of trust, and mortgages for purchase of property Limit on indebtedness Election, when.Fire protection districts may execute executory conditional sales contracts, installment promissory notes secured by a deed of trust, or mortgages with a governmental entity or a private party for the purchase or sale of any real or personal property, or property rights: PROVIDED, That the purchase price specified in a contract or promissory note to purchase property does not result in a total indebtedness in excess of three-eighths of one percent of the value of the taxable property in the fire protection district: PROVIDED FURTHER, That if a proposed purchase contract or promissory note would result in a total indebtedness in excess of that amount, a proposition to determine whether that contract or promissory note may be executed shall be submitted to the voters for approval or rejection in the same manner that bond issues for capital purposes are submitted to the voters: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That a fire protection district may jointly execute contracts, promissory notes, deeds of trust, or mortgages authorized by this section with any governmental entity.  The term "value of the taxable property" shall have the meaning set forth in RCW 39.36.015.[1984 c 230 § 27; 1970 ex.s. c 42 § 29; 1965 c 21 § 1. Formerly RCW 52.08.080.]Notes:Severability -- Effective date -- 1970 ex.s. c 42: See notes following RCW 39.36.015. RCW 52.12.102Burning permits Resolution to be published and posted.The commissioners of a district may adopt a resolution authorizing the district to issue fire permits and establishing the terms and conditions under which the permit shall be issued. Notice of the resolution shall be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper published in the county and of general circulation in the district and post it in three public places in the district. The affidavit of publication by the publisher and of the clerk of the district of the posting shall be filed in the records of the district. Ten days after the posting and the last publication, the resolution shall take effect.[1984 c 229 § 2; 1947 c 254 § 21; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5654-151j. Formerly RCW 52.28.020.] RCW 52.12.103Burning permits Issuance Contents.Burning permits may be issued upon request, by the persons authorized by the commissioners when the issuing officer deems it appropriate. The permit shall designate the premises and the exact location where the fire may be started and permitted, the nature of the material to be burned, the time limit of the permit, and may contain any special requirements and conditions pertaining to the fire and the control of the fire as the issuing officer deems appropriate.[1984 c 229 § 3; 1947 c 254 § 22; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5654-151k. Formerly RCW 52.28.030.] RCW 52.12.104Burning permits Duties of permittee.The permittee shall comply with the terms and conditions of the permit, and shall maintain a responsible person in charge of the fire at all times who shall maintain the fire under control, not permit it to spread to other property or structures, and extinguish the fire when the authorized burning is completed or when directed by district personnel. The possession of a permit shall not relieve the permittee from liability for damages resulting from the fire for which the permittee may otherwise be liable.[1984 c 229 § 4; 1947 c 254 § 23; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5654-151l. Formerly RCW 52.28.040.]Notes:Crimes relating to fires: Chapter 9A.48 RCW.Liability for fire damage: RCW 4.24.040, 4.24.050, 4.24.060, 76.04.495, 76.04.750. RCW 52.12.105Burning permits Penalty.The violation of or failure to comply with any provision of this chapter pertaining to fire permits, or of any term or condition of the permit, is a misdemeanor.[1947 c 254 § 24; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5654-151m. Formerly RCW 52.28.050.] RCW 52.12.111Use of equipment and personnel beyond district boundaries Governmental function.A fire protection district may permit, under conditions prescribed by the fire commissioners of the district, the use of its equipment and personnel beyond the boundaries of the district. Any use made of the equipment or personnel under this section shall be deemed an exercise of a governmental function of the district.[1984 c 230 § 77; 1980 c 43 § 1; 1969 c 88 § 2. Formerly RCW 52.36.025.] RCW 52.12.121Use of equipment and personnel outside district Duty of fire fighter deemed duty for district Benefits not impaired.If a fire fighter engages in any duty outside the boundaries of the district the duty shall be considered as part of the duty as fire fighter for the district, and a fire fighter who is injured while engaged in duties outside the boundaries of the district shall be entitled to the same benefits that the fire fighter or the fire fighter's dependents would be entitled to receive if the injury occurred within the district.[1984 c 230 § 78; 1969 c 88 § 3. Formerly RCW 52.36.027.] RCW 52.12.131Emergency medical services Establishment and collection of charges.Any fire protection district which provides emergency medical services, may by resolution establish and collect reasonable charges for these services in order to reimburse the district for its costs of providing emergency medical services.[1984 c 230 § 81; 1975 c 64 § 1. Formerly RCW 52.36.090.]