Responsibilities of county sheriffs and fire wardens in controlling fires

(1) In a county that has not entered into a cooperative agreement as described in Section 65A-8-203, the county sheriff shall take appropriate action to suppress wildfires on state or private lands. (2) In all cases the county sheriff shall: (a) report, as prescribed by the state forester, on wildland fire control action; (b) investigate and report wildfire causes; and (c) enforce the provisions of this chapter either independently or in cooperation with the state forester. (3) In an eligible entity that has entered into a cooperative agreement, as described in Section 65A-8-203, the primary responsibility for wildfire management is the division, upon the delegation of fire management authority, as described in Section 65A-8-203.1. (4) The county sheriff and the county sheriff's organization shall maintain cooperative support of the fire management organization.