71 Pa. Stat. § 1312
Whenever any fire-warden, by reason of physical disability, or unavoidable absence from home during the fire season, or for any good and sufficient cause, shall be unable to perform the duties required by this act, he is hereby empowered, with the consent of the Commissioner of Forestry, to employ a suitable person to act in his stead; which said person, so appointed, shall have all the qualifications demanded of the fire-warden, and for services so rendered, in the absence of the fire-warden, he shall receive the same compensation: Provided, That the reports hereinbefore required to be made to the Commissioner of Forestry shall be made by the district fire-warden. In case the death of the district fire-warden should occur before making the report herein required, or in case of his total physical disability, the said report may be made by an assistant fire-warden, after first ascertaining the facts; and in making such examination or investigation, such assistant fire-warden is hereby empowered to examine persons, under oath or affirmation to be administered by himself.
71 P.S. § 1312