In a response to the controversies that followed the Dry Creek fire, which burned 49,000 acres and the Silver Dollar Restaurant in central Washington in August, 2009, the Washington state Senate has passed Engrossed Senate Bill 6462 which requires firefighters to take action on a fire even if it is outside their fire protection district, or in “no man’s land” as it has been called. Wildfire Today has written several times about this issue.

There was criticism after the fire that the landmark restaurant and some private property burned because no fire protection district was responsible for fire suppression in the area.

The bill also provides some protection from liability for firefighters working in no man’s land.

Here is the full text of the bill, minus the preamble verbiage, approved on Monday, which now heads to the House.