R652-121-700. Definition of Eligible Suppression and Presuppression Costs.

1. After the County's approved fire suppression budget has been depleted, all fire suppression costs that occur during the fire season, as defined in R652-121-300, directly related to the control of wildfires on forest, range and watershed lands within the unincorporated area of a participating county are eligible for coverage by the Wildland Fire Suppression Fund. The costs of resources directly involved in fire suppression efforts that are paid from the county's wildland fire suppression account are eligible. The county must notify the state forester in writing when the county's budget for normal fire suppression costs has been expended. Area managers will verify to the state forester in writing that a county's fire suppression budget has been depleted.

2. A good faith effort must be made by the counties to recover suppression costs for human caused fires. If the county has evidence that indicates a responsible party for a fire and chooses not to proceed, suppression cost for that fire is not eligible for reimbursement from the Wildland Fire Suppression Fund. After consultation between the county and state, the state forester will determine if a good faith effort has been made to recover suppression cost.

3. Wildland Fire suppression costs recovered under Section 65A-3-4 will be repaid to the Wildland Fire Suppression Fund.

4. Presuppression projects may be funded from the Wildland Fire Suppression Fund when approved in advance by the state forester.