Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGO 1952 NO. 349 >

A logging operator incurs no civil liability by reducing the fire fighting crew upon verbal directions of the supervisor of forestry, but he would incur a civil liability for totally withdrawing his crew from a fire unless authorized to do so in writing.  There is no liability upon the part of the Division of Forestry for the escape of fire after an operator has been authorized to reduce or withdraw his crew.