§ 1856. — Fires left unattended and unextinguished.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC1856]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 91--PUBLIC LANDS
Sec. 1856. Fires left unattended and unextinguished
Whoever, having kindled or caused to be kindled, a fire in or near
any forest, timber, or other inflammable material upon any lands owned,
controlled or leased by, or under the partial, concurrent, or exclusive
jurisdiction of the United States, including lands under contract for
purchase or for the acquisition of which condemnation proceedings have
been instituted, and including any Indian reservation or lands belonging
to or occupied by any tribe or group of Indians under the authority of
the United States, or any Indian allotment while the title to the same
is held in trust by the United States, or while the same shall remain
inalienable by the allottee without the consent of the United States,
leaves said fire without totally extinguishing the same, or permits or
suffers said fire to burn or spread beyond his control, or leaves or
suffers said fire to burn unattended, shall be fined under this title or
imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 788; Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXIII,
Sec. 330016(1)(G), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 107 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch.
321, Sec. 53, 35 Stat. 1908; June 25, 1910, ch. 431, Sec. 6, 36 Stat.
857; Nov. 15, 1941, ch. 472, Sec. 2, 55 Stat. 764).
Words ``without hard labor'' which followed ``six months'' and
preceded ``or both'' were omitted as unnecessary. (See reviser's note
under section 1 of this title.)
Enumeration of applicable condemnation statutes was deleted and
section extended and made applicable to all lands in process of
condemnation by the government. This does no violence to the intent of
Congress and clarifies the section considerably.
Other changes in phraseology were made.
Amendments
1994--Pub. L. 103-322 substituted ``fined under this title'' for
``fined not more than $500''.
