The director of environmental management may, from time to time, call together the city or town and district fire chiefs and senior officers of the several cities and towns at places as he or she may designate, for conference and for instruction in methods of forest fire suppression. Fire chiefs and senior officers attending those conferences or meetings for instruction may be allowed their actual expenses incurred for attending not exceeding two (2) conferences or meetings during any one calendar year and those expenses shall be paid from the appropriation provided for by § 2-11-11 upon vouchers approved by the director of environmental management.