R.I. Gen. Laws § 2-12-21

(a) In lieu of any civil action that may be brought for the payment to the state or fire company for expenses incurred by a fire chief or senior officer, or authorized forest fire official in attending and suppressing a forest fire, the director of the department of environmental management, or his or her authorized representative, or the fire company jurisdiction or fire district in which the fire occurs, may submit to and collect from the person, firm, corporation or public agency causing the fire all charges for forest fire suppression costs. In the event those charges are submitted by a fire company or fire district to collect for suppression costs to any person, firm, corporation or public agency causing the fire, no payment shall be made by the state to the fire company or fire district as provided in §§ 2-11-6, 2-12-6 and 2-12-16. Within seven (7) days after the date of the fire, any fire chief of a fire company or fire district affected shall notify the director of the department of environmental management of his or her intention to submit suppression charges to any person, firm or corporation.

(b) All suppression charges recovered by the department of environmental management shall be turned over to the general treasurer for the use of the state and a proper record shall be made of these suppression charges recovered.