R.I. Gen. Laws § 2-12-3

(a)(1) For the purpose of protecting the forests from fire, the director of environmental management may expend, within the amount appropriated, a sum sufficient to establish, equip and maintain lookout stations, may purchase or lease necessary land and purchase material, contract for the construction of lookout stations, employ a watcher at each station established during those periods in each year that the director may deem advisable, and shall fix the rate per hour for those services. The watchers shall at all times, during their employment, be subject to the control of the director.

(2) The director of environmental management may cooperate in forest protection and may enter into agreements with other states, groups of states and the federal government to provide assistance and accept assistance in the control of fires which may include training of personnel. Any employee of the department of environmental management assigned to fire control duties or training programs outside this state shall be considered the same as working inside this state for the purpose of compensation and other employee benefits.

(b) The general assembly shall annually appropriate, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, in addition to any other moneys appropriated for this purpose, any sum as it may deem necessary to be expended under the direction of the department of environmental management for the purpose of providing for keeping open and operating the forest fire towers in this state throughout twelve (12) months of each year and the state controller is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of that sum, or so much as may be required from time to time, upon the receipt by him or her of proper vouchers approved by the director of environmental management, provided that authority is given to the director of environmental management to utilize the services of the personnel assigned to the operation of forest fire towers for other phases of the forestry, parks and parkways program, whenever, in his or her discretion, because of certain seasonal weather conditions, forest fire towers are not required to be staffed with a full complement of personnel.