§ 16-31. Firefighting equipment expense.

(a)

Special equipment as used in this section shall include all motor vehicles commandeered by the fire chief or the officer in charge, machinery and other types of equipment not owned by the town fire department, and any hazardous material team, handler or supplies owned by or not owned by the town, use of which may be required by the fire department to combat any fire, or conduct any type of rescue or recovery in the town.

(b)

The owner of the premises involved in any fire shall pay the total cost and expense for the use of any special equipment to combat such fire or hazardous material spill. The chief of the fire department or the officer in charge at any such fire or hazardous material spill shall determine whether or not the use of special equipment is necessary to combat such fire and shall be authorized to obtain the use of any such equipment that may be required.

(c)

The owner of the premises involved in any fire or hazardous material spill for which special equipment was used to combat such fire or hazardous material spill shall pay the costs and expenses incurred for the use of such special equipment within 30 days from the date of billing by the town clerk-treasurer. In the event such bill is not paid within the time herein provided, then in that event the amount thereof shall be placed on the next succeeding tax roll of the town and collected in the same manner as other taxes are collected.

(Prior Code, § 5-1-16)