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Groton fire chief halts burn permits after state law shifts forest-fire-warden duties to towns
Summary
Groton’s fire chief told the select board he has stopped issuing burn permits after Vermont’s Act 162 shifted forest-fire-warden appointment and liability to towns; the chief urged the select board to seek state clarification and to appoint a deputy.
The Groton fire chief told the select board that, under recent changes to state law (referred to in the meeting as Act 162), the town now assumes appointment responsibility and potential liability for the forest fire warden role when the board appoints a fire chief.
"At this point, I am issuing no burn permits," the chief said, describing Act 162 as shifting liability from the state to towns and leaving smaller, volunteer-based departments exposed. He said the law "automatically" makes the town the authority having jurisdiction through its appointment of the fire chief and that he is concerned towns without full-time staff and administrative support will be disadvantaged.
Board members pressed for clarification of legal exposure and discussed steps the town can take. The chief recommended contacting the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and the Vermont League of Cities and Towns to determine how appointment and liability interact under the new statute. Members also discussed finding and appointing a deputy forest fire warden to ensure permitting work can continue while the legal questions are resolved.
The fire chief also used his department update to flag operational issues at the fire station — intermittent hot water, lighting sensors that dim office lights, and ladder access on local silos — and requested better two-way communication between the department and the board when projects affect operations.
NEXT STEP: staff to contact relevant state agencies for legal clarification, explore appointing a deputy forest fire warden and return with recommendations to the board.
