Montana Title 76. Land Resources and Use § 76-13-211. Amount due for protection treated as lien

(1) Whenever the department provides wildland fire protection for any wildland or timber not protected by the owner of the wildland or timber as required by part 1 or this part, the amount due for the protection is a lien upon the wildland or timber that continues until the amount due is paid.

(2) The lien has the same force, effect, and priority as general tax liens under the laws of the state and is subject and inferior only to tax liens on the wildland or timber. The county attorney of the county in which the wildland or timber is situated shall on request of the department foreclose the lien in the name of the state and in the manner provided by law, or the county attorney upon the request of the department shall institute an action against the landowner in the name of the state in any district or justice court having jurisdiction to recover the debt. The state in the action is not required to pay any fees or costs to the clerk of the court or justice of the peace.

(3) The remedies provided by this section are cumulative and do not affect the other provisions of part 1 or this part for the payment and collection of amounts due to the department.