Chapter VII Chapter VII

Establishment and maintenance of fire-brigade. For the prevention and extinction of fire, the committee may and, if the State Government so direct shall, establish and maintain a fire-brigade, and provide implements, machinery or means of communicating intelligence for the efficient discharge of their duties by the brigade.

Power of fire brigade and other persons for suppression of fires. (1) On the occasion of a fire in a municipality any magistrate, the secretary of the committee, any member of committee, any member of a fire-brigade maintained by the committee then and there directing the operations of men belonging to the brigade, and any police officer not below the rank of Sub- Inspector 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, or cause to be broken into or through or pulled down, or used for the passage of houses or other appliances, any premises; (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. When any Government building is endangered by such a fire the officer of the Public Works Department for the time being in charge of the building may exercise the powers conferred on a magistrate by this sub-section. (2) No person shall be liable to pay damages for any act done by him under sub-section (1) in good faith. (3) 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.

Limitation on operation of chapter. The powers conferred by the last foregoing section shall be subject to any regulations, conditions or restrictions which may be imposed by rule.