New York Consolidated Laws, Environmental Conservation Law - ENV § 9-1111. Forest fire protection

1. Towns adjacent to fire towns and fire districts.  The department may when necessary in its judgment, in order to protect the forests in the fire towns and fire districts from fire, take steps to extinguish fires actually burning in any town adjacent to a fire town or district.

2. Impressing fire fighting assistance.  Any department employee or any other officer charged by the department with the duty of fire fighting shall, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary or in conflict herewith, have the power to summon and hire for the purpose of fighting fires any person who shall have attained sixteen years of age, and to incur other expenses deemed necessary to the extinguishment of particular fires.

3. Additional protection by towns in Suffolk county.  Any town in the county of Suffolk may appropriate not exceeding the sum of one thousand dollars in any one year without the vote of town meeting for the purpose of purchasing equipment and establishing fire patrols for the prevention of forest fires within any such town.  The patrols and equipment shall be under the direction and supervision of the town board.  Moneys appropriated pursuant to this subdivision shall be assessed, levied and collected in the same manner as moneys for other town charges are assessed, levied and collected.