Neb. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 35
Nebraska Revised Statutes

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 35-201 (2026)

Compact authorized

✓ current as of July 2026
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The Governor of Nebraska may execute a compact on behalf of the state with any one or more states who may, by their legislative bodies, authorize a compact, in form substantially as follows:

ARTICLE I

The purpose of this compact is to promote effective prevention and control of forest fires in the great plains region of the United States by the maintenance of adequate forest fire fighting services by the member states, and by providing for reciprocal aid in fighting forest fires among the compacting states of the region, including South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and any adjoining state of a current member state.

ARTICLE II

This compact is operative immediately as to those states ratifying it if any two or more of the member states have ratified it.

ARTICLE III

In each state, the state forester or officer holding the equivalent position who is responsible for forest fire control may act as compact administrator for that state and may consult with like officials of the other member states and may implement cooperation between the states in forest fire prevention and control. The compact administrators of the member states may organize to coordinate the services of the member states and provide administrative integration in carrying out the purposes of this compact. Each member state may formulate and put in effect a forest fire plan for that state.

ARTICLE IV

If the state forest fire control agency of a member state requests aid from the state forest fire control agency of any other member state in combating, controlling, or preventing forest fires, the state forest fire control agency of that state may render all possible aid to the requesting agency, consonant with the maintenance of protection at home.

ARTICLE V

If the forces of any member state are rendering outside aid pursuant to the request of another member state under this compact, the employees of the state shall, under the direction of the officers of the state to which they are rendering aid, have the same powers (except the power of arrest), duties, rights, privileges, and immunities as comparable employees of the state to which they are rendering aid.

No member state which provides outside aid pursuant to this compact shall be liable in any civil action to respond in damages as a result of acts or omissions arising out of and in the course of rendering outside aid, but such immunity from liability shall not extend to the operation of any motor vehicle in connection with such services. Nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed to grant any such immunity to any person causing damage by his or her gross negligence or willful or wanton conduct.

All liability, except as otherwise provided in this compact, that may arise either under the laws of the requesting state or under the laws of the aiding state or under the laws of a third state on account of or in connection with a request for aid, shall be assumed and borne by the requesting state.

Any member state rendering outside aid pursuant to this compact shall be reimbursed by the member state receiving the aid for any loss or damage to, or expense incurred in the operation of any equipment answering a request for aid, and for the cost of all materials, transportation, wages, salaries, and maintenance of employees and equipment incurred in connection with such request. However, nothing in this compact prevents any assisting member state from assuming such loss, damage, expense, or other cost or from loaning such equipment or from donating such services to the receiving member state without charge or cost.

Each member state shall assure that workers' compensation benefits in conformity with the minimum legal requirements of the state are available to all employees and contract firefighters sent to a requesting state pursuant to this compact.

For the purposes of this compact, the term employee includes any volunteer or auxiliary legally included within the forest fire fighting forces of the aiding state under the laws of the aiding state.

The compact administrators may formulate procedures for claims and reimbursement under the provisions of this article, in accordance with the laws of the member states.

ARTICLE VI

Ratification of this compact does not affect any existing statute so as to authorize or permit curtailment or diminution of the forest fire fighting forces, equipment, services, or facilities of any member state.

Nothing in the compact authorizes or permits any member state to curtail or diminish its forest fire fighting forces, equipment, services, or facilities. Each member state shall maintain adequate forest fire fighting forces and equipment to meet demands for forest fire protection within its borders in the same manner and to the same extent as if this compact were not operative.

Nothing in this compact limits or restricts the powers of any state ratifying the compact to provide for the prevention, control, and extinguishment of forest fires, or to prohibit the enactment or enforcement of state laws, rules, or regulations intended to aid in the prevention, control, and extinguishment in the state.

Nothing in this compact affects any existing or future cooperative relationship or arrangement between the United States Forest Service and a member state or states.

ARTICLE VII

Representatives of the United States Forest Service may attend meetings of the compact administrators.

ARTICLE VIII

The provisions of articles IV and V of this compact that relate to reciprocal aid in combating, controlling, or preventing forest fires are operative as between any state party to this compact and any other state which is party to this compact and any other state that is party to a regional forest fire protection compact in another region if the Legislature of the other state has given its assent to the mutual aid provisions of this compact.

ARTICLE IX

This compact shall continue in force and remain binding on each state ratifying it until the Legislature or the Governor of the state takes action to withdraw from the compact. Such action is not effective until six months after notice of the withdrawal has been sent by the chief executive of the state desiring to withdraw to the chief executives of all states then parties to the compact.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12 cases, 1941–1992 · leading case: Hill v. City of Lincoln, 330 N.W.2d 471 (Neb. 1983).
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Hill v. City of Lincoln, 330 N.W.2d 471 (Neb. 1983). · cites it 6× “, we are controlled by the definition of such word as contained in the pension plan for firefighters of cities of the first class, Neb.Rev.Stat. §§ 35-201 et seq. (Cum.Supp.”
Axberg v. City of Lincoln, 2 N.W.2d 613 (Neb. 1942). · cites it 6× “The part of the statute under consideration provided: “All metropolitan cities, and cities of the first class having a paid fire department, except any city of the first class that has heretofore adopted a charter for its own government, shall pension all firemen,” etc.”
City of Scottsbluff v. Tiemann, 175 N.W.2d 74 (Neb. 1970). · cites it 4× “City of Lincoln, supra, which held: “We think that section 35-201, Comp. St. 1929, is not only void as local and special legislation in its application, but it is violative of section 18, art.”
Adkisson v. City of Columbus, 333 N.W.2d 661 (Neb. 1983). · cites it 3× “Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 35-201 to 35-216 (Cum.”
State Ex Rel. Retchless v. Cook, 152 N.W.2d 23 (Neb. 1967). · cites it 6× “The resignation of Charles Retchless as a volunteer fireman was accepted effective October 1, 1965, and at that time section 35-201, R. S. Supp'., 1963, was in effect.”
Schaub v. City of Scottsbluff, 83 N.W.2d 775 (Neb. 1957). · cites it 5× “cities of the first class that do not have a home rule charter, are: “In case any fireman in a paid fire department in any city of the first class * * * shall become permanently and totally disabled from accident or other cause, while in, the line of his duty, such fireman shall…”
Sullivan v. City of Omaha, 19 N.W.2d 510 (Neb. 1945). · cites it 6× “e first class which has adopted, or which may hereafter adopt, a charter for its own government, as provided by Article XI of the Constitution of Nebraska, to provide by charter and establish pensions or a retirement system or systems for its municipal employees, subject to…”
State Ex Rel. Baldwin v. Strain, 42 N.W.2d 796 (Neb. 1950). “327 was enacted for the purpose of amending sections 35-201 to 35-203, inclusive, Comp.”
Fisher v. City of Grand Island, 479 N.W.2d 772 (Neb. 1992). · cites it 6× “On that date, the pension provided for firefighters in cities of the first class having a paid fire department was set out in Neb.Rev.Stat. § 35-201 (Cum.Supp.1963) (Plan A).”
State Ex Rel. McIlvain v. City of Falls City, 131 N.W.2d 93 (Neb. 1964). · cites it 8× “It is provided by section 35-201, R. R. S. 1943, that cities of the first class having a paid fire department, other than home rule charter cities, shall pension all firemen having 21 years of service who shall elect to retire from active service and go upon the retired list.”
Kohtz v. City of York, 487 N.W.2d 295 (Neb. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 2× “Neb. Rev. Stat. § 35-201 (5) (Cum. Supp. 1982) stated: “[S]alary shall mean the base rate of pay, excluding overtime, callback pay, clothing allowances, and other such benefits,” and thus, salary was defined the same *20 under the old law as it is under the new.”
Anglim v. City of Omaha, 299 N.W. 353 (Neb. 1941). · cites it 2× “She claims a widow’s pension under section 35-201, Comp. St. 1929, which provided that a pension should “be paid to the widow of such deceased fireman during such time as she shall remain the widow of such deceased fireman.”
— Neb. Rev. Stat. § 35-201(5) — 1 case
Hill v. City of Lincoln, 330 N.W.2d 471 (Neb. 1983). “, we are controlled by the definition of such word as contained in the pension plan for firefighters of cities of the first class, Neb.Rev.Stat. §§ 35-201 et seq. (Cum.Supp.”
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