Rhode Island § 2-12-15 - Forest Fires and Prevention

§ 2-12-15. Emergency powers of director.

Whenever, in his or her opinion, an unusual forest fire hazard exists, the governor shall in writing, notify the director of environmental management, and shall likewise notify the director when in his or her opinion the hazard has ceased to exist. Between the dates of the receipt by him or her of the notices, the director has full charge of the hazard and all fire chiefs and senior officers shall obey his or her orders or those of his or her authorized representatives; and he and she and his or her authorized representatives shall have all the powers of fire chiefs and senior officers and the director of the department of environmental management may establish rates of payment for equipment used in the prevention and suppression of forest fires. Any time during this period of unusual forest fire hazard, the director may prohibit, by a written directive filed with the secretary of state and by public announcement, all open air fires and any other activity conducted in the open air that creates a forest or wildland fire hazard, in any areas of the state that he or she deems necessary to protect the health and property of the people of the state. Any person, firm or corporation who violates a directive, upon conviction, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding three hundred dollars ($300) nor less than fifty dollars ($50.00) or not exceeding ninety (90) days nor less than thirty (30) days’ imprisonment or both for each offense and each day shall be considered a separate offense.