A bill before the state Legislature allows Canada to join a compact for the prevention and control of forest fires. Representative Thomas Brunner says the compact allows South Dakota to assist other states and vice versa. House Bill 1020 adds to the list of who can help.
“What this does is allow the Provinces of Canada to join the compact so that we can rely on their help, we can help them when there’s wildfires, and more importantly we can bill back and forth and make each other whole when we have fires, and help each other,” Brunner says.
The measure passed the House with a unanimous vote.