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Abstract

A Montana statute placed the burden of extinguishing forest fires on the person on whose "property" the fire occurred, and, on failure of such person to extinguish it, made him liable to reimburse any authorized unit that should do so. Fire broke out on property owned by D, and a Government unit extinguished it. Previous to such fire, D had contracted to sell the land to X under a contract giving X the right of possession. Held, by the doctrine of equitable conversion, X was the beneficial owner, and the land was not D's "property" so as to render him liable under the statute. First State Bank of Thompson Falls v. United States, (C. C. A. 9th, 1937) 92 F. (2d) 132.

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