Washington § 76.04.021 - Department must accommodate livestock owner's request to retrieve or care for animals at risk due to a wildfire — Liability.

Full text of Washington Revised Code of Washington § 76.04.021 — Department must accommodate livestock owner's request to retrieve or care for animals at risk due to a wildfire — Liability., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 76.04.021. Department must accommodate livestock owner's request to retrieve or care for animals at risk due to a wildfire — Liability.

(1)(a) The department must make every reasonable effort to accommodate a livestock owner's request to retrieve or care for animals in his or her charge that are at risk due to a wildfire.
(b) The department may only prohibit livestock owners, or the owner's employees or agents, from retrieving or caring for livestock that are lawfully present on the public lands during any fire suppression response if doing so is reasonably necessary to prevent interference with a direct, active fire response.
(2) The department must incorporate the implementation of this section into any prefire season training or coordination conducted in local communities that contain active grazing areas.
(3)(a) The owner of livestock lawfully present on public lands assumes full liability for any damages incurred to himself or herself, and any employees or agents in his or her charge, if public lands are accessed to retrieve or care for livestock during the time of a fire suppression response by the department affecting the public lands in question.
(b) No civil liability may be imposed by any court on the state, the department, or another political subdivision of the state for any direct or indirect adverse impacts, including injury or death, resulting from:
(i) The department's reasonable efforts under this section to accommodate a livestock owner, or the owner's employees or agents, to retrieve or care for animals in his or her charge that are at risk due to a wildfire; or
(ii) A livestock owner, or the owner's employees or agents, accessing public lands to retrieve or care for livestock during the time of a fire suppression response by the department affecting the public lands in question.
[ 2016 c 109 s 2.]

Source: official Washington text · Last verified 2026-08-27

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Frequently Asked Questions About Washington § 76.04.021

What does Revised Code of Washington § 76.04.021 cover?

Section 76.04.021 ("Department must accommodate livestock owner's request to retrieve or care for animals at risk due to a wildfire — Liability.") is part of the Revised Code of Washington, the codified statutory law of Washington. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Washington § 76.04.021?

A common citation format is "Revised Code of Washington § 76.04.021" (Washington). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Washington law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Washington official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Washington attorney.

How does Washington § 76.04.021 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Washington can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

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