Cooperation by the department, as provided in this article, with any person desiring to use prescribed burning as a means of converting brush-covered lands into forage lands, which has as its objective prevention of high intensity wildland fires, watershed management, range improvement, vegetation management, forest improvement, wildlife habitat improvement, and maintenance of air quality, or any combination thereof, is declared to be for a public purpose.
This article shall be administered by the director or, if responsibility therefor is delegated by the director, by the chief of a county fire department in a county contracting with the department pursuant to the provisions of Section 4129.
In furtherance of the provisions of this article, the department shall provide advisory service to applicants for permits as to precautions to be taken by the applicant to prevent damage to the property of others by reason of the prescribed burning, and shall provide standby fire protection, to such extent as personnel, fire crews, and firefighting equipment are available.