Chapter II Chapter II

Powers of Government, Director/Chief Fire Officer and Members of Force

The Government may from time to time make such general or special orders as it deems fit—

1. (a) for providing services with such appliances and equipment as it deems proper;
2. (b) for providing adequate supply of water and for securing the same as it shall be available for use;
3. (c) for construction or providing stations or hiring places for accommodating the members of the Fire Force and its fire fighting appliances; – 4 –
4. (d) for giving rewards to persons who have given notice of fire and to those who have rendered effective services to the Fire Force on the occasion of fire in the discharge of their duties under section 26;
5. (e) for giving compensation to the persons who have rendered effective services to the Fire Force in case of accident or to the dependents of such persons in case of death while they were engaged in helping the Fire Force in the discharge of their duties;
6. (f) for the training, discipline and good conduct of the members of the Fire Force;
7. (g) for the speedy attendance of the members of the Fire Force with necessary appliances and equipment on the occasion of any alarm of fire;
8. (h) for sending members of the Fire Force with appliances and equipment beyond the limit of area in which this Act is in force for the purpose of fire fighting in the neighbourhood of such limit;
   • (i) for the employment of the members of the Fire Force in any rescue, salvage or any other similar work;
9. (j) for regulating and controlling of the powers, duties and functions of the Director/Chief Fire Officer;
10. (k) generally for the maintenance of the Fire Force in a high state of efficiency.

1. (1) On the occasion of fire in any area in which this Act is in force, any member of the Fire Force who is in charge of the fire fighting operation on the spot may—
   • (a) remove or order any other member of the Fire Force to remove any person who by his presence, interferes with or impedes the operation for extinguishing the fire or for saving life or property;
   • (b) close any street or passage in or near which the fire is burning;
   • (c) for the purpose of extinguishing fire, break into or break through or pull down any premises for the passage of hose or appliance or cause them to be broken into or through or pull down doing as little damage as possible;
   • (d) require the authority in charge of water supply in the area to regulate the water means so as to provide water at a specified pressure at the place where fire has broken out or utilise from any stream, cistern, well or tank or from any available source of water whether public or private, for the purpose of extinguishing or limiting the spread of such fire;
   • (e) exercise the same powers for dispersing an assembly of persons likely to obstruct fire fighting operation as if he is the officer in charge of a police station and as if such assembly is an unlawful assembly and shall be entitled to the same immunities and protection as such an officer in respect of the exercise of such powers; – 5 –
   • (f) generally take such measures as may appear to him to be necessary for extinguishing fire or for the protection of life and property.
2. (2) Any damage done on the occasion of fire by the members of the Fire Force in the due discharge of their duties shall be deemed to be damage by fire within the meaning of any policy of insurance against fire.

The Director/Chief Fire Officer may with the previous sanction of the Government, enter into an agreement with the Authority in charge of water supply in any area for securing the adequate supply of water in case of fire on such terms as to payment or otherwise as may be specified in the agreement.

The Director/Chief Fire Officer may with the previous sanction of the Government enter into agreement with any person who employs or maintains personnel or keep equipments for fire fighting purpose. To secure on such terms as to payment or otherwise as may be provided by or under the arrangements of the personnel or equipment or any other assistance for the purpose of dealing with fire in any area in which this Act is in force.

1. (1) The Government may by notification in the Official Gazette require owners or occupiers of premises in any area or of any class of premises used which in its opinion are likely to cause risk of fire, to take such precautions as may be specified in such notifications.
2. (2) Where notification has been issued under sub-section (1), it shall be lawful for the Director/Chief Fire Officer or any Officer of the Fire Force authorised by the Government in this behalf to direct the removal of objects or goods likely to cause the risk of fire, to a place of safety and on failure of the owner or occupier to do so, the Director or any such officer may after giving the owner or occupier a reasonable opportunity of making the representation, seize, detain or remove such objects or goods.