Sec. 23-42. Liability of railroads for damages caused by sparks.
Sec. 23-42. Liability of railroads for damages caused by sparks. Any railroad
company which, through act of its employees or agents, by sparks from its locomotives
or otherwise, sets fire to trees, brush or grass on lands outside the right-of-way of such
company, shall be liable to the state for the lawful expenses incurred by the State Forest
Fire Warden in extinguishing such fire. The bill for any such fire shall be submitted by
the warden or fire chief in charge to the State Forest Fire Warden. If approved by the
State Forest Fire Warden, it shall be ordered paid by the State Comptroller. A statement
of all such bills paid by the state during the previous six months shall be submitted on
or before the tenth day of December and the tenth day of June in each year by the State
Forest Fire Warden to the railroad company liable under the provisions of this section.
Such statement shall be accompanied by copies of all bills on which the claim is based
and shall be paid by such railroad company to the State Treasurer. Each section foreperson employed by a railroad company, upon the discovery of any fire in the section under
the jurisdiction of the foreperson, for which such company is liable under the provisions
of this section, shall summon necessary assistance, proceed to the fire and extinguish
it, and shall give such assistance to state forest fire control personnel as may, from time
to time, be requested by such personnel.
(1949 Rev., S. 3483; 1949, S. 1883d; P.A. 01-150, S. 12.)
History: P.A. 01-150 made technical changes including changes for purposes of gender neutrality.
See Sec. 13b-360 et seq. re fires caused by railway engines.