PUBLIC LAW 110–79—AUG. 13, 2007 

THE GREAT PLAINS WILDLAND FIRE 

PROTECTION COMPACT 

121 STAT. 730 PUBLIC LAW 110–79—AUG. 13, 2007 

Public Law 110–79 

110th Congress 

An Act 

Granting the consent and approval of Congress to an interstate forest fire protection 

compact. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. CONSENT OF CONGRESS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The consent and approval of Congress is 

given to an interstate forest fire protection compact, as set out 

in subsection (b). 

(b) COMPACT.—The compact reads substantially as follows: 

‘‘THE GREAT PLAINS WILDLAND FIRE PROTECTION 

AGREEMENT 

‘‘THIS AGREEMENT is entered into by and between the State, 

Provincial and Territorial wildland fire protection agencies signatory hereto, hereinafter referred to as ‘Members’. 

‘‘FOR, AND IN CONSIDERATION OF the following terms 

and conditions, the Members agree: 

‘‘ARTICLE I 

‘‘The purpose of this compact is to promote effective prevention 

and control of forest fires in the Great Plains region of the United 

States by the maintenance of adequate forest fire fighting services 

by the member states, and by providing for reciprocal aid in fighting 

forest fires among the compacting states of the region, including 

South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and any adjoining 

sate of a current member state. 

‘‘ARTICLE II 

‘‘This compact is operative immediately as to those states 

ratifying it if any two or more of the member states have ratified 

it. 

‘‘ARTICLE III 

‘‘In each state, the state forester or officer holding the equivalent position who is responsible for forest fire control may act 

as compact administrator for that state and may consult with 

like officials of the other member states and may implement 

cooperation between the states in forest fire prevention and control. 

The compact administrators of the member states may organize 

State listing. 

Aug. 13, 2007 

[S. 975] 

PUBLIC LAW 110–79—AUG. 13, 2007 121 STAT. 731 

to coordinate the services of the member states and provide administrative integration in carrying out the purposes of this compact. 

Each member state may formulate and put in effect a forest fire 

plan for that state. 

‘‘ARTICLE IV 

‘‘If the state forest fire control agency of a member state 

requests aid from the state forest fire control agency of any other 

member state in combating, controlling, or preventing forest fires, 

the state forest fire control agency of that state may render all 

possible aid to the requesting agency, consonant with the maintenance of protection at home. 

‘‘ARTICLE V 

‘‘If the forces of any member state are rendering outside aid 

pursuant to the request of another member state under this compact, the employees of the state shall, under the direction of the 

officers of the state to which they are rendering aid, have the 

same powers (except the power of arrest), duties, rights, privileges, 

and immunities as comparable employees of the state to which 

they are rendering aid. 

‘‘No member state or its officers or employees rendering outside 

aid pursuant to this compact is liable on account of any act or 

omission on the part of such forces while so engaged, or on account 

of the maintenance or use of any equipment or supplies in connection with rendering the outside aid. 

‘‘All liability, except as otherwise provided in this compact, 

that may arise either under the laws of the requesting state or 

under the laws of the aiding state or under the laws of a third 

state on account of or in connection with a request for aid, shall 

be assumed and borne by the requesting state. 

‘‘Any member state rendering outside and pursuant to this 

compact shall be reimbursed by the member state receiving the 

aid for any loss or damage to, or expense incurred in the operation 

of any equipment answering a request for aid, and for the cost 

of all materials, transportation, wages, salaries, and maintenance 

of employees and equipment incurred in connection with such 

request. However, nothing in this compact prevents any assisting 

member state from assuming such loss, damage, expense, or other 

cost or from loaning such equipment or from donating such services 

to the receiving member state without charge or cost. 

‘‘Each member state shall assure that workers compensation 

benefits in conformity with the minimum legal requirements of 

the state are available to all employees and contract firefighters 

sent to a requesting state pursuant to this compact. 

‘‘For the purposes of this compact the term, employee, includes 

any volunteer or auxiliary legally included within the forest fire 

fighting forces of the aiding state under the laws of the aiding 

state. 

‘‘The compact administrators may formulate procedures for 

claims and reimbursement under the provisions of this article, 

in accordance with the laws of the member states. 

121 STAT. 732 PUBLIC LAW 110–79—AUG. 13, 2007 

‘‘ARTICLE VI 

‘‘Ratification of this compact does not affect any existing statute 

so as to authorize or permit curtailment or diminution of the forest 

fighting forces, equipment, services, or facilities of any member 

state. 

‘‘Nothing in this compact authorizes or permits any member 

state to curtail or diminish its forest fire fighting forces, equipment, 

services, or facilities. Each member state shall maintain adequate 

forest fighting forces and equipment to meet demands for forest 

fire protection within its borders in the same manner and to the 

same extent as if this compact were not operative. 

‘‘Nothing in this compact limits or restricts the powers of any 

state ratifying the compact to provide for the prevention, control, 

and extinguishment of forest fires, or to prohibit the enactment 

or enforcement of state laws, rules, or regulations intended to 

aid in the prevention, control, and extinguishment in the state. 

‘‘Nothing in this compact affects any existing or future cooperative relationship or arrangement between the United States Forest 

Service and a member state or states. 

‘‘ARTICLE VII 

‘‘Representatives of the United States Forest Service may 

attend meetings of the compact administrators. 

‘‘ARTICLE VIII 

‘‘The provisions of Articles IV and V of this compact that 

relate to reciprocal aid in combating, controlling, or preventing 

forest fires are operative as between any state party to this compact 

and any other state which is party to this compact and any other 

state that is party to a regional forest fire protection compact 

in another region if the Legislature of the other state has given 

its assent to the mutual aid provisions of this compact. 

‘‘ARTICLE IX 

‘‘This compact shall continue in force and remain binding on 

each state ratifying it until the Legislature or the Governor of 

the state takes action to withdraw from the compact. Such action 

is not effective until six months after notice of the withdrawal 

Effective date. 

Notification. 

PUBLIC LAW 110–79—AUG. 13, 2007 121 STAT. 733 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 975: 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 153 (2007): 

July 13, considered and passed Senate. 

July 30, considered and passed House. 

Æ 

has been sent by the chief executive of the state desiring to withdraw to the chief executives of all states then parties to the compact.’’. 

Approved August 13, 2007.