Okla. Stat. tit. 2, § 2-16-35

The Governor, on behalf of this state, is authorized to execute

a compact, in substantially the following form, with any one or more

of the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, and

the Legislature signifies in advance its approval and ratification

of the compact:

SOUTH CENTRAL INTERSTATE FOREST

FIRE PROTECTION COMPACT

ARTICLE I.

The purpose of this compact is to promote effective prevention

and control of forest fires in the South Central region of the

United States by the development of integrated forest fire plans, by

the maintenance of adequate forest fire fighting services by the

member states, by providing for mutual aid in fighting forest fires

among the compacting states of the region and with states which are

party to other Regional Forest Fire Protection compacts or

agreements, and for more adequate forest development.

ARTICLE II.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 2. Agriculture Page 598

This compact shall become operative immediately as to those

states ratifying it whenever any two or more of the states of

Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas which are

contiguous have ratified it and Congress has given consent thereto.

Any state not mentioned in this article which is contiguous with any

member state may become a party to this compact, subject to approval

by the Legislature of each of the member states.

ARTICLE III.

In each state, the state forester or officer holding the

equivalent position who is responsible for forest fire control shall

act as compact administrator for that state and shall consult with

like officials of the other member states and shall implement

cooperation between such states in forest fire prevention and

control.

The compact administrators of the member states shall organize

to coordinate the services of the member states and provide

administrative integration in carrying out the purposes of this

compact.

There shall be established an advisory committee of legislators,

forestry commission representatives, and forestry or forest products

industries representatives which shall meet, from time to time, with

the compact administrators. Each member state shall name one member

of the Senate and one member of the House of Representatives, and

the Governor of each member state shall appoint one representative

who shall be the chairman of the state forestry commission or

comparable official and one representative who shall be associated

with forestry or forest products industries to comprise the

membership of the advisory committee. Action shall be taken by a

majority of the compacting states, and each state shall be entitled

to one vote.

The compact administrators shall formulate and, in accordance

with need, from time to time, revise a regional forest fire plan for

the member states.

It shall be the duty of each member state to formulate and put

in effect a forest fire plan for that state and take such measures

as may be necessary to integrate such forest fire plan with the

regional forest fire plan formulated by the compact administrators.

ARTICLE IV.

Whenever 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,

it shall be the duty of the state forest fire control agency of that

state to render all possible aid to the requesting agency which is

consonant with the maintenance of protection at home.

ARTICLE V.

Whenever the forces of any member state are rendering outside

aid pursuant to the request of another member state under this

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 2. Agriculture Page 599

compact, the employees of such 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.
suant to the request of another member state under this

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 2. Agriculture Page 599

compact, the employees of such 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 shall be 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 therewith: Provided, that nothing herein shall be

construed as relieving any person from liability for his own

negligent act or omission, or as imposing liability for such

negligent act or omission upon any state.

All liability, except as otherwise provided herein, 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 aid pursuant to this compact

shall be reimbursed by the member state receiving such 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;

provided, that nothing herein contained shall prevent any assisting

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

or from loaning such equipment or from donating such service to the

receiving member state without charge or cost.

Each member state shall provide for the payment of compensation

and death benefits to injured employees and the representatives of

deceased employees in case employees sustain injuries or are killed

while rendering outside aid pursuant to this compact, in the same

manner and on the same terms as if the injury or death were

sustained within such state.

For the purposes of this compact the term "employee" shall

include any volunteer or auxiliary legally included within the

forest fire fighting forces of the aiding state under the laws

thereof.

The compact administrators shall formulate procedures for claims

and reimbursement under the provisions of this article, in

accordance with the laws of the member states.

ARTICLE VI.

Ratification of this compact shall not be construed to affect

any existing statute so as to authorize or permit curtailment or

diminution of the forest fire fighting forces, equipment, services

or facilities of any member state.

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Nothing in this compact shall be construed to limit or restrict

the powers of any state ratifying the same 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 such prevention, control and

extinguishment in such state.

Nothing in this compact shall be construed to affect any

existing or future cooperative relationship or arrangement between

the United States Forest Service and a member state or states.

ARTICLE VII.

The compact administrators may request the United States Forest

Service to act as the primary research and coordinating agency of

the South Central Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact in

cooperation with the appropriate agencies in each state, and the

United States Forest Service may accept the initial responsibility

in preparing and presenting to the compact administrators its

recommendations with respect to the regional fire plan.

Representatives of the United States Forest Service may attend

meetings of the compact administrators.

ARTICLE VIII.
Fire Protection Compact in

cooperation with the appropriate agencies in each state, and the

United States Forest Service may accept the initial responsibility

in preparing and presenting to the compact administrators its

recommendations with respect to the regional fire plan.

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 which relate

to mutual aid in combating, controlling or preventing forest fires

shall be operative as between any state party to this compact and

any other state which is party to a regional forest fire protection

compact in another region; provided, that the legislature of such

other state shall have given its assent to such 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 such

state takes action to withdraw therefrom. Such action shall not be

effective until six (6) months after notice thereof 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.