# RCW 76.04.035: RCW 76.04.035: Wardens—Appointment—Duties

> Washington · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T76_C04_S035

## Section

- **Citation:** RCW 76.04.035
- **Heading:** RCW 76.04.035: Wardens—Appointment—Duties
- **Jurisdiction:** Washington
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Washington Code / Title 76 / Chapter 04 / Section 035

## Text

(1) The department may appoint any of its employees as wardens, at the times and localities as it considers the public welfare demands, within any area of the state where there is forestland requiring protection. (2) The duties of wardens shall be: (a) To provide forest fire prevention and protection information to the public; (b) To investigate discovered or reported fires on forestlands and take appropriate action; (c) To patrol their areas as necessary; (d) To visit all parts of their area, and frequented places and camps as far as possible, and warn campers or other users and visitors of fire hazards; (e) To see that all locomotives and all steam, internal combustion, and other spark-emitting equipment are provided with spark arresters and adequate devices for preventing the escape of fire or sparks in accordance with the law; (f) To see that operations or activities on forestland have all required fire prevention and suppression equipment or devices as required by law; (g) To extinguish wildfires; (h) To set back-fires to control fires; (i) To summons, impress, and employ help in controlling wildfires; (j) To see that all laws for the protection of forests are enforced; (k) To investigate, arrest, and initiate prosecution of all offenders of this chapter or other chapters as allowed by law; and (l) To perform all other duties as prescribed by law and as the department directs. (3) All wardens and rangers shall render reports to the department on blanks or forms, or in the manner and at the times as may be ordered, giving a summary of how employed, the area visited, expenses incurred, and other information as required by the department. (4) The department may suspend the authority of any warden who may be incompetent or unwilling to discharge properly the duties of the office. (5) The department shall determine the placement of the wardens and, upon its request to the county commissioners of any county, the county commissioners shall designate and furnish the wardens with suitably equipped office quarters in the county courthouse. (6) The authority of the wardens regarding the prevention, suppression, and control of forest fires, summoning, impressing, or employing help, or making arrests for violations of this chapter may extend to any part of the state.

## Nearby sections

- [RCW 76.04.005 RCW 76.04.005: Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T76_C04_S005.md)
- [RCW 76.04.015 RCW 76.04.015: Fire protection powers and duties of department—Enforcement—Investigation—Administration.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T76_C04_S015.md)
- [RCW 76.04.016 RCW 76.04.016: Fire prevention and suppression capacity—Duties owed to public in general—Legislative intent.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T76_C04_S016.md)
- [RCW 76.04.021 RCW 76.04.021: Department must accommodate livestock owner's request to retrieve or care for animals at risk due to a wildfire—Liability.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T76_C04_S021.md)
- [RCW 76.04.025 RCW 76.04.025: Federal funds.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T76_C04_S025.md)
- [RCW 76.04.035 RCW 76.04.035: Wardens—Appointment—Duties.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T76_C04_S035.md)
- [RCW 76.04.045 RCW 76.04.045: Rangers—Appointment—Ex officio rangers—Compensation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T76_C04_S045.md)
- [RCW 76.04.055 RCW 76.04.055: Service of notices.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T76_C04_S055.md)
- [RCW 76.04.065 RCW 76.04.065: Arrests without warrants.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T76_C04_S065.md)
- [RCW 76.04.075 RCW 76.04.075: Rules—Penalty.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T76_C04_S075.md)
- [RCW 76.04.085 RCW 76.04.085: Penalty for violations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T76_C04_S085.md)
- [RCW 76.04.095 RCW 76.04.095: Cooperative protection.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T76_C04_S095.md)
- [RCW 76.04.105 RCW 76.04.105: Contracts for protection and development.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T76_C04_S105.md)
- [RCW 76.04.115 RCW 76.04.115: Articles of incorporation—Requirements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T76_C04_S115.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T76_C04_S035. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.