Indiana § 14-23-6-3 - Medical and hospital services

§ 14-23-6-3. Medical and hospital services

Sec. 3. If a qualified member of the Indiana volunteer forest firefighters service is injured or made sick while engaged in fighting fire under the direction of the state forester or an authorized fire warden of the division of forestry, the member may be provided medical and hospital services to be paid out of the money of the division of forestry.

[Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-5-6-3.]

As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.16.

IC 14-23-6.5Chapter 6.5. Indiana Rural Fire Protection Initiative (INRFPI)

14-23-6.5-1"Program" defined 14-23-6.5-2"Rural community" defined 14-23-6.5-3"Rural fire department" defined 14-23-6.5-4Establishment 14-23-6.5-5Required components of program 14-23-6.5-6Grant programs 14-23-6.5-7Duties of department

IC 14-23-6.5-1"Program" defined Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "program" refers to the Indiana rural fire protection initiative established in section 4 of this chapter.

As added by P.L.55-1999, SEC.4.

IC 14-23-6.5-2"Rural community" defined Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "rural community" means a city, town, village, or community having a population of ten thousand (10,000) or less.

As added by P.L.55-1999, SEC.4.

IC 14-23-6.5-3"Rural fire department" defined Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "rural fire department" means a recognized organization providing primary fire protection to a rural area or rural community.

As added by P.L.55-1999, SEC.4.

IC 14-23-6.5-4Establishment Sec. 4. The Indiana rural fire protection initiative is established.

As added by P.L.55-1999, SEC.4.

IC 14-23-6.5-5Required components of program Sec. 5. The program must include the following components:

(1) Financial assistance to rural fire departments for organizing, training, and equipment.

(2) Financial assistance to enable rural fire departments to continue to provide fire protection service.

(3) Assistance to rural fire departments in meeting safety and administrative requirements placed on these departments by Indiana and United States governments.

As added by P.L.55-1999, SEC.4.

IC 14-23-6.5-6Grant programs Sec. 6. The program must complement grant programs established by the United States government for the program.

As added by P.L.55-1999, SEC.4.

IC 14-23-6.5-7Duties of department Sec. 7. The department shall do the following:

(1) Administer the program.

(2) Administer grants provided by the United States government for the program.

As added by P.L.55-1999, SEC.4.

IC 14-23-6.6Chapter 6.6. Prescribed Burning

14-23-6.6-1Certified prescribed burn manager 14-23-6.6-2Landowner's agent 14-23-6.6-3Prescribed burn 14-23-6.6-4Prescribed burn plan 14-23-6.6-5Right to conduct prescribed burning 14-23-6.6-6Prescribed burn requirements for privileges and immunities 14-23-6.6-7Civil immunity 14-23-6.6-8Exemption from county ordinances prohibiting the burning of vegetation 14-23-6.6-9Exemption from nuisance 14-23-6.6-10Actual damages 14-23-6.6-11Administration of chapter

IC 14-23-6.6-1Certified prescribed burn manager Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, a "certified prescribed burn manager" means a person who has successfully completed the division of forestry's prescribed burn manager training program.

As added by P.L.124-2025, SEC.1.

IC 14-23-6.6-2Landowner's agent Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "landowner's agent" refers to a person who has permission from a landowner to use prescribed burning on the landowner's property.

As added by P.L.124-2025, SEC.1.

IC 14-23-6.6-3Prescribed burn Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "prescribed burn" or "prescribed burning" means the planned application of fire to a naturally occurring vegetative fuel to accomplish one (1) or more land management objectives, including:

(1) a forestry operation;

(2) a vegetative fuel reduction;

(3) a silvicultural treatment;

(4) a wildlife habitat improvement; or

(5) the management of:

(A) a grassland;

(B) a forest;

(C) a woodland;

(D) a savanna; or

(E) any other plant community.

As added by P.L.124-2025, SEC.1.

IC 14-23-6.6-4Prescribed burn plan Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "prescribed burn plan" means a written plan in a format approved by the division of forestry that establishes the conditions and methods for prescribed burning.

As added by P.L.124-2025, SEC.1.

IC 14-23-6.6-5Right to conduct prescribed burning Sec. 5. A landowner has the right to conduct prescribed burning on the landowner's property. However, the privileges and immunities afforded by this chapter are only available to a landowner who complies with section 6 of this chapter.

As added by P.L.124-2025, SEC.1.

IC 14-23-6.6-6Prescribed burn requirements for privileges and immunities Sec. 6. (a) Before conducting a prescribed burn under this chapter, a person shall:

(1) if the person conducting the controlled burn is not the property's landowner, obtain the written consent of the property's landowner;

(2) have a written prescribed burn plan prepared and approved by a certified prescribed burn manager; and

(3) notify the nearest local fire department and county dispatcher or 911 dispatcher at least twenty-four (24) hours before the prescribed burn begins.

(b) While the prescribed burn is being completed, the person shall have:

(1) at least one (1) certified prescribed burn manager on site of the prescribed burn; and

(2) a completed copy of the prescribed burn plan in the person's possession.

As added by P.L.124-2025, SEC.1.

IC 14-23-6.6-7Civil immunity Sec. 7. (a) Subject to subsection (b), a certified prescribed burn manager who conducts the prescribed burning in accordance with section 6 of this chapter is immune from civil liability for harm caused by the:

(1) prescribed burn; or

(2) smoke produced by the prescribed burn.

(b) The immunity described in subsection (a) does not apply if the harm was the result of the certified prescribed burn manager's:

(1) negligence; or

(2) willful and wanton misconduct.

(c) Subject to subsection (d), a landowner or landowner's agent who conducts prescribed burning on the landowner's property in accordance with section 6 of this chapter is immune from civil liability for harm caused by the:

(1) prescribed burn; or

(2) smoke produced by the prescribed burn.

(d) The immunity described in subsection (c) does not apply if the harm was the result of the:

(1) negligence of the landowner or the landowner's agent; or

(2) willful and wanton misconduct of the landowner or the landowner's agent.

(e) The department's officers, agents, and employees are immune from civil liability, in accordance with IC 34-13-3, arising out of any of the following:

(1) Participation in planning, undertaking, or assisting with prescribed burning.

(2) Administration of the prescribed burn certification program, including revocation of prescribed burn certifications issued under the program.

As added by P.L.124-2025, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.123-2026, SEC.34.

IC 14-23-6.6-8Exemption from county ordinances prohibiting the burning of vegetation Sec. 8. If a prescribed burn is completed in accordance with section 6 of this chapter, the prescribed burn is exempt from any prohibition on burning vegetation issued by a county or municipality, including a local disaster emergency declaration under IC 10-14-3-29.

As added by P.L.124-2025, SEC.1.

IC 14-23-6.6-9Exemption from nuisance Sec. 9. Prescribed burning and the smoke produced by prescribed burning do not constitute a nuisance.

As added by P.L.124-2025, SEC.1.

IC 14-23-6.6-10Actual damages Sec. 10. Damages for injuries or losses as result of a prescribed burn are limited to actual damages.

As added by P.L.124-2025, SEC.1.

IC 14-23-6.6-11Administration of chapter Sec. 11. The division of forestry shall administer the prescribed burn certification program and standards for completing a prescribed burn plan.

As added by P.L.124-2025, SEC.1.

IC 14-23-7Chapter 7. Emergency Fire Hazard Areas

14-23-7-1"Area" defined 14-23-7-2Declaration of emergency fire hazard area 14-23-7-3Notice of proclamation 14-23-7-4Restrictions on hunting, fishing, and trapping seasons 14-23-7-5Open burning prohibited 14-23-7-6Annulment of proclamation