reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MN Stat § 88.04 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.04 — Firebreaks; Preventing Fires.

88.04 FIREBREAKS; PREVENTING FIRES. Subdivision 1. Local cooperation. The commissioner shall cooperate with the state highway authorities and with the supervising officers of the various towns and cities in the construction of firebreaks along section lines and public highways. Subd. 2. Firebreak authorization. All cities in the state situated in any wildfire area are hereby authorized to clear off all combustible material and debris and create at least two good and sufficient firebreaks of not less than ten feet in width each, which shall completely encircle such municipalities at a distance of not less than 20 rods apart, between which backfires may be set or a stand made to fight wildfires in cases of emergency. Subd. 3. Local responsibility; tax. All towns and cities shall take necessary precautions to prevent the starting and spreading of wildfires and to extinguish them. They may levy a tax annually on all taxable property in the city or town. The tax when collected shall be known as the fire fund and kept separate from all other funds and used only to pay all necessary and incidental expenses incurred in enforcing the provisions of sections 88.03 to 88.22. Up to $500 shall be expended in any one year from any such fire fund for the support of any municipal fire department. No municipality shall make any levy for its fire fund at any time when the fund contains $5,000 or more, including cash on hand and uncollected taxes that are not delinquent. Subd. 4. General supervision. In all towns constituted within any of the wildfire protection districts which may be established by the commissioner, the respective town and city officers and employees shall cooperate with, and be under the general supervision and direction of, the commissioner. History:  (4031-11) 1925 c 407 s 11; 1949 c 676 s 1; 1967 c 146 s 2; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7; 1973 c 773 s 1; 1989 c 277 art 4 s 5; 1993 c 328 s 11; 1994 c 505 art 3 s 2
MN Stat § 88.041 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.041 — Wildfire Prevention And Suppression Agreements.

88.041 WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION AGREEMENTS. The commissioner may enter into agreements with other states, the Canadian or provincial governments to cooperatively prevent and suppress wildfires. History:  1985 c 112 s 1; 1993 c 328 s 12
MN Stat § 88.05 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.05 — Roadsides; Clearing; Firebreaks.

88.05 ROADSIDES; CLEARING; FIREBREAKS. All highways, roads, and trails within wildfire areas are declared to be established firebreaks and for that purpose the state, through the Department of Natural Resources, is authorized to clean up all dead and down timber, all underbrush, rotting logs, stumps, and all other combustible refuse and debris along each side of these highways, roads, and trails for a distance of 200 feet on each side from the center thereof, all of this material to be burned or disposed of under the supervision of a forest officer in such manner as not to injure the growing timber. All dead and usable timber taken out of these roadsides shall be piled for the immediate removal thereof by the owners of the land from which the same was removed. History:  (4031-11 1/2) 1933 c 320 s 1; 1937 c 113 s 1; 1967 c 146 s 3; 1969 c 1129 art 10 s 2; 1993 c 328 s 13
MN Stat § 88.06 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.06 — Removing Dead Or Down Timber.

88.06 REMOVING DEAD OR DOWN TIMBER. The commissioner may permit, under the commissioner's direct supervision and control, any Civilian Conservation Corps, Works Progress Administration, or other state or federal relief agency actually engaged in the improvement and conservation of state trust fund lands within the boundaries of any state forest to clean up and remove all dead or down timber, underbrush, rotting logs, stumps, and all other combustible refuse and debris which is deemed to be a fire hazard, or the removal of any trees in forest stand improvement and cultural operations which is advisable in the interest of good forest management; and to use so much of these cuttings for firewood and other forest development needs while these camps are thus actively engaged in the improvement and care of these forests. History:  (4031-11 1/2a) 1933 c 320 s 1; 1937 c 113 s 2; 1967 c 146 s 4; 1986 c 444; 1993 c 328 s 14
MN Stat § 88.065 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.065 — Equipment Furnished.

88.065 EQUIPMENT FURNISHED. Subject to applicable provisions of state laws respecting purchases, the commissioner of natural resources may purchase for and furnish to any governmental subdivisions of the state authorized to engage in natural disaster relief materials or equipment therefor, and may transport, repair, and renovate natural disaster relief materials and equipment for governmental subdivisions of the state. The commissioner may use any funds available for the purchase of natural disaster relief equipment or for its repair, transportation, and renovation under federal grants, if permitted by the terms thereof, or under state appropriations, unless otherwise expressly provided. Except as otherwise authorized or permitted by federal or state laws or regulations, the governmental subdivision receiving any such materials or services shall reimburse the state for the cost. All moneys received in reimbursement shall be credited to the fund from which the purchase, transportation, repair, or renovation was made, and are hereby reappropriated annually and shall be available for the same purpose as the original appropriation. As used in this section, "natural disaster relief" includes wildfire prevention or suppression, hazardous material discharge control or cleanup, and flood or windstorm relief. History:  1945 c 521 s 1; 1969 c 1129 art 10 s 2; 1984 c 613 s 1; 1987 c 404 s 108; 1993 c 328 s 15; 1995 c 36 s 1
MN Stat § 88.067 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.067 — Grants To Local Fire Departments.

88.067 GRANTS TO LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS. The commissioner may make grants for procurement of fire suppression equipment and training of fire departments in techniques of fire control. These grants will enable local fire departments to assist the state more effectively in controlling wildfires. The commissioner may require a local match for any grant. Fire suppression equipment may include, but is not limited to, fire suppression tools and equipment, protective clothing, dry hydrants, communications equipment, and conversion of vehicles to wildfire suppression vehicles. Training shall be provided to the extent practicable in coordination with other public agencies with training and educational responsibilities. History:  1982 c 511 s 32; 1993 c 328 s 16; 1999 c 231 s 113
MN Stat § 88.068 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.068 — Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Account.

88.068 VOLUNTEER FIRE ASSISTANCE GRANT ACCOUNT. A volunteer fire assistance grant account is established in the special revenue fund. Sales taxes allocated under section 297A.94, for making grants under section 88.067, must be deposited in the special revenue fund and credited to the volunteer fire assistance grant account. Money in the account, including interest, is appropriated to the commissioner for making grants under that section. History:   1Sp2017 c 1 art 3 s 1
MN Stat § 88.08 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.08 — Wildfire Protection Districts.

88.08 WILDFIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTS. The commissioner may create and establish wildfire protection districts, including all lands of both state and private ownership, upon which there is a probability of wildfires starting, and establish forest officers over these districts. All such wildfire districts heretofore established and now in existence are hereby continued until and unless hereafter abolished by the commissioner. History:  (4031-14) 1925 c 407 s 14; 1967 c 146 s 5; 1993 c 328 s 17
MN Stat § 88.09 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.09 — Acquiring Land For Fire Protection.

88.09 ACQUIRING LAND FOR FIRE PROTECTION. Subdivision 1. Acceptance of lands. The commissioner may on behalf of the state accept the title to any tract of land, not exceeding 40 acres in area, or to accept any easement in or upon any tract of land, which the commissioner deems necessary or convenient for the use of the state as locations for fire lookout towers, warehouses, or other buildings of any kind, or as locations for firebreaks, or for other use which the commissioner may deem suitable. Subd. 2. Purchase, lease, or condemnation. The commissioner may on behalf of the state, where no suitable state lands are available, purchase, lease or acquire easements on small tracts or parcels of lands, not exceeding 40 acres in area, to be used as locations for fire lookout towers, warehouses, or other buildings of any kind, or as locations for firebreaks, or for any other use which the commissioner may deem suitable; also acquire by condemnation any tract of land, not exceeding 40 acres, for these purposes; also acquire, by gift, purchase, or condemnation, any easement or right-of-way that may be necessary to provide access to any tract of land so acquired. History:  (4031-14a, 4031-14b) 1927 c 329 s 1,2; 1929 c 220 s 1,2; 1933 c 302 s 1,2; 1935 c 332 s 1; 1953 c 148 s 1; 1959 c 471 s 1; 1967 c 146 s 6; 1986 c 444; 1993 c 328 s 18
MN Stat § 88.10 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.10 — Authority Of State Forest Officers.

88.10 AUTHORITY OF STATE FOREST OFFICERS. Subdivision 1. General authority. Under the direction of the commissioner, forest officers are charged with preventing and extinguishing wildfires in their respective districts and the performance of such other duties as may be required by the commissioner. They may arrest without warrant any person found violating any provisions of sections 88.03 to 88.22, take the person before a court of competent jurisdiction in the county charging the person so arrested, and the person so charged shall be arraigned and given a hearing on the complaint. The forest officers shall not be liable in civil action for trespass committed in the discharge of their duties. All authorized state forest officers, fire wardens, conservation officers, smoke chasers, fire supervisors or individuals legally employed as firefighters, may in the performance of their duties of firefighting go onto the property of any person, company, or corporation and in so doing may set backfires, dig or plow trenches, cut timber for clearing fire lines, dig water holes, remove fence wires to provide access to the fire or carry on all other customary activities necessary for the fighting of wildfires without incurring a liability to anyone, except for damages arising out of willful or gross negligence. Subd. 2. Arrest authority. Any forest officer may serve any warrant for the arrest of any person violating any provision of sections 88.03 to 88.22. Subd. 3. Wildland firefighters; training and licensing. Forest officers and all individuals employed as firefighters under this chapter are not subject to the licensing, training, and certification requirements of chapter 299N. History:  (4031-15) 1925 c 407 s 15; 1957 c 322 s 1; 1967 c 146 s 7; 1978 c 735 s 2; 1986 c 444; 1993 c 328 s 19; 1Sp2019 c 4 art 3 s 35
MN Stat § 88.11 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.11 — Assistance For Fighting Fires.

88.11 ASSISTANCE FOR FIGHTING FIRES. Subdivision 1. Firefighting personnel. At any time forest officers, with the approval of the commissioner, may employ suitable persons to prevent and extinguish any fires. Each forest officer so employed shall be supplied with the necessary equipment. The commissioner, or any forest officer, may summon any person of the age of 18 years and upward to assist in stopping any fire burning in the district under the care of such state employee and may incur any other necessary and reasonable expense for this purpose, but shall promptly report the matter to the next superior officer or other state employee over the forest officer. Subd. 2. Failure to assist; penalty; commandeered property. Any able-bodied person so summoned who refuses or neglects or otherwise fails to assist in extinguishing such fire or who fails to make all reasonable efforts to that end, until released by the summoning state employee, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. The forest officer shall have power to commandeer, for the time being, equipment, tools, appliances, or other property in the possession of any person either summoned to assist in extinguishing the fire or in the vicinity thereof, and to use, and to require the persons summoned to use, the commandeered property in the fighting and extinguishing of the fire. The owner of any property so commandeered shall be promptly paid just compensation for the use thereof and all damages done to the commandeered property while in this use by the forest officer from any money available for these expenses under sections 88.03 to 88.22. History:  (4031-16) 1925 c 407 s 16; 1967 c 146 s 8; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 49 s 2; 1993 c 328 s 20
MN Stat § 88.12 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.12 — Compensating Wildfire Fighters; Emergency Expenses.

88.12 COMPENSATING WILDFIRE FIGHTERS; EMERGENCY EXPENSES. Subdivision 1. Limitation. The compensation and expenses of persons temporarily employed in emergencies in suppression or control of wildfires shall be fixed by the commissioner of natural resources or an authorized agent and paid as provided by law. Such compensation shall not exceed the maximum rate for comparable labor established as provided by law or rules, but shall not be subject to any minimum rate so established. The commissioner is authorized to draw and expend from money appropriated for the purposes of sections 88.03 to 88.22 a reasonable sum and through forest officers or other authorized agent be used in paying emergency expenses, including just compensation for services rendered by persons summoned and for private property used, damaged, or appropriated under sections 88.03 to 88.22. The commissioner of management and budget is authorized to issue a payment for this sum when duly approved by the commissioner. The commissioner or agent in charge shall take proper subvouchers or receipts from all persons to whom these moneys are paid, and after these subvouchers have been approved they shall be filed with the commissioner of management and budget. Authorized funds as herein provided at any time shall be deposited, subject to withdrawal or disbursement by check or otherwise for the purposes herein prescribed, in a bank authorized and bonded to receive state deposits; and the bond of this bank to the state shall cover and include this deposit. Subd. 2. Contracts for services; commissions to persons employed. The commissioner is hereby authorized and empowered to contract for or accept the services of any and all persons whose aid is available, temporarily or otherwise, in forestry or wildfire prevention work, either gratuitously or for compensation not in excess of the limits provided by law with respect to the employment of labor by the commissioner. At the request of another emergency response agency, trained forestry wildfire fighting resources may be used to support search and rescue operations. The commissioner may issue a commission, or other written evidence of authority, to any such person whose services are so arranged for; and may thereby empower such person to act, temporarily or otherwise, as fire warden, or in any other capacity, with such powers and duties as may be specified in the commission or other written evidence of authority, but not in excess of the powers conferred by law on forest officers. History:  (4031-17, 4031-17a) 1925 c 407 s 17; 1927 c 280 s 1; 1955 c 218 s 1; 1967 c 146 s 9; 1969 c 1129 art 10 s 2; 1973 c 492 s 14; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1986 c 444; 1993 c 328 s 21; 2000 c 495 s 8; 2009 c 101 art 2 s 109; 1Sp2019 c 10 art 3 s 18
MN Stat § 88.15 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.15 — Campfires.

88.15 CAMPFIRES. Subdivision 1. Extinguishment. Any forest officer, conservation officer, or other peace officer who finds that any person has left a campfire burning shall take measures to extinguish the fire and take action against the person or persons responsible for leaving the campfire burning. Subd. 2. Not to be left burning. (a) Every person who starts or maintains a campfire shall: (1) exercise every reasonable precaution to prevent the campfire from spreading; (2) before lighting the campfire, clear the ground of all combustible material five feet from the base of the campfire; (3) remain with the campfire at all times; and (4) before leaving the site, completely extinguish the campfire. (b) For the purposes of this section, "maintains" means tending or adding substantial fuel to a campfire with the effect of extending the life of the campfire. History:  (4031-20, 4031-21) 1925 c 407 s 20,21; 1929 c 261 s 1; 1981 c 37 s 2; 1986 c 444; 1993 c 328 s 23; 2008 c 357 s 20
MN Stat § 88.16 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.16 — Starting And Reporting Fires.

88.16 STARTING AND REPORTING FIRES. Subdivision 1. Written permission required. Except as provided in subdivision 2, and section 88.17, it shall be unlawful to start or have any open fire without the written permission of the commissioner, a forest officer, or an authorized fire warden. Subd. 2. Exceptions. No permit is required for the following fires: (a) A fire started when the ground is snow-covered. (b) A campfire. (c) A fire contained in a charcoal grill, camp stove, or other device designed for the purpose of cooking or heating. (d) A fire to burn dried vegetative materials and other materials allowed by Minnesota statutes or official state rules and regulations in a burner of a design which has been approved by the commissioner and with which there is no combustible material within five feet of the base of the burner and is in use only between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. of the following day, when the ground is not snow-covered. Subd. 3. Report of fire; penalty. The occupant of any property upon which any unauthorized fire is burning, whether the fire was started by the occupant or otherwise, shall promptly report the fire to the nearest forestry office, fire department, or other proper authority. Failure to make this report shall be a misdemeanor and the occupant of the premises shall be deemed prima facie guilty of negligence if the unreported fire spreads from the property or causes damage, loss, or injury to another person, that person's property, or the state. History:  (4031-22) 1925 c 407 s 22; 1967 c 146 s 12; 1969 c 410 s 1; 1978 c 735 s 3; 1986 c 444; 1993 c 328 s 24
MN Stat § 88.171 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.171 — Open Burning Prohibitions.

88.171 OPEN BURNING PROHIBITIONS. Subdivision 1. Continual. Open burning prohibitions specified in this section are in effect at all times of the year. Subd. 2. Prohibited materials; exceptions. No person shall conduct, cause, or permit open burning of rubber, plastics, chemically treated materials, or other materials which produce excessive or noxious smoke including, but not limited to, tires, railroad ties, chemically treated lumber, composite shingles, tar paper, insulation, composition board, sheetrock, wiring, paint, or paint filters. The commissioner may allow burning of prohibited materials when the commissioner of health or the community health board has made a determination that the burning is necessary to abate a public health nuisance. Except as specifically authorized by the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency as an emergency response to an oil spill, no person shall conduct, cause, or permit open burning of oil. Subd. 3. Hazardous wastes. No person shall conduct, cause, or permit open burning of hazardous waste as defined in section 116.06, subdivision 11, and applicable commissioner's rules. Subd. 4. Industrial solid waste. (a) No person shall conduct, cause, or permit open burning of solid waste generated from an industrial or manufacturing process or from a service or commercial structure. (b) The commissioner may allow open burning of raw untreated wood if the commissioner determines that reuse, recycling, or land disposal is not a feasible or prudent alternative. Subd. 5. Demolition debris. No person shall conduct, cause, or permit open burning of burnable building material generated from demolition of commercial or institutional structures. A farm building is not a commercial structure. Subd. 6. Salvage operations. No person shall conduct, cause, or permit salvage operations by open burning. Subd. 7. Motor vehicles. No person shall conduct, cause, or permit the processing of motor vehicles by open burning. Subd. 8. Garbage. (a) No person shall conduct, cause, or permit open burning of discarded material resulting from the handling, processing, storage, preparation, serving, or consumption of food, unless specifically allowed under section 17.135. (b) A county may allow a resident to conduct open burning of material described in paragraph (a) that is generated from the resident's household if the county board by resolution determines that regularly scheduled pickup of the material is not reasonably available to the resident. Subd. 9. Burning ban. No person shall conduct, cause, or permit open burning during a burning ban put into effect by a local authority, county, or a state department or agency. Subd. 10. Smoldering fires. Fires must not be allowed to smolder with no flame present, except when conducted for the purpose of managing forests, prairies, or wildlife habitats. History:  1993 c 328 s 27; 1995 c 240 art 2 s 1; 1996 c 295 s 1,2; 2015 c 21 art 1 s 109
MN Stat § 88.18 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.18 — Fire Wardens.

88.18 FIRE WARDENS. The commissioner may appoint local government officials, authorized Minnesota pollution control agents, fire chiefs, or other responsible persons to be fire wardens in their respective districts. History:  (4031-24) 1925 c 407 s 24; 1967 c 146 s 14; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7; 1993 c 328 s 28