Power of certain persons for suppression of fire.

(1) On the occasion of a fire in a municipal area, any Magistrate, the Secretary or any member of the Municipality or any member of a fire-brigade then and there directing the operations of persons belonging to the brigade or any police officer directed by a Magistrate may -- (a) remove or order the removal of any person who by his presence interferes with or impedes the operations for extinguishing the fire or for saving life or property; (b) close any street or passage in or near which any fire is burning; (c) for the purpose of extinguishing the fire break into or through or pull down any premises or cause any premises to be broken into or through or to be pulled down or used for the passage of hoses or other appliances; (d) cause mains and pipes to be shut off so as to give greater pressure of water in or near the place where the fire has occurred; (e) call on the persons in charge of any fire engine to render such assistance as may be possible; and (f) generally, take such measures as may appear necessary for the preservation of life or property. (2) When any Government building is endangered by fire, the officers of the Public Works Department for the time being in charge of the building may exercise the powers conferred on a Magistrate by sub-section (1). (3) No person shall be liable to pay damages for any act done by him in good faith under this section. (4) Any damage done in the exercise of a power conferred or a duty imposed by this section shall be deemed to be damaged by fire within the meaning of any policy of insurance against fire. (5) The powers conferred by this section shall be subject to any conditions or restrictions which may be imposed by the Administrator.