{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/27-15.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/27-15.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/27-15.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/27-15.1.html"}],"law_id":84253,"edition_id":1,"section_id":84253,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-15.1","catch_line":"Authority of chief or other officer in charge when answering alarm; penalty for refusal to obey orders","history":"1970, c. 187; 1977, c. 326; 1984, c. 644; 2001, c. 142; 2008, c. 410; 2015, cc. 502, 503; 2017, c. 517.","full_text":"While any fire department or fire company is in the process of answering an alarm where there is imminent danger or the actual occurrence of fire or explosion or the uncontrolled release of hazardous materials that threaten life or property and returning to the station, the chief or other officer in charge of such fire department or fire company at that time shall have the authority to (i) maintain order at such emergency incident or its vicinity, including the immediate airspace; (ii) direct the actions of the firefighters at the incident; (iii) notwithstanding the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 46.2-888 through 46.2-891, keep bystanders or other persons at a safe distance from the incident and emergency equipment; (iv) facilitate the speedy movement and operation of emergency equipment and firefighters; (v) cause an investigation to be made into the origin and cause of the incident; and (vi) until the arrival of a police officer, direct and control traffic in person or by deputy and facilitate the movement of traffic. The fire chief or other officer in charge shall display his firefighter’s badge or other proper means of identification. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this authority shall extend to the activation of traffic control signals designed to facilitate the safe egress and ingress of emergency equipment at a fire station. Any person or persons refusing to obey the orders of the chief or other officer in charge at that time is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. The chief or other officer in charge shall have the power to make arrests for violation of the provisions of this section. The authority granted under the provisions of this section may not be exercised to inhibit or obstruct members of law-enforcement agencies or emergency medical services agencies from performing their normal duties when operating at such emergency incident, nor to conflict with or diminish the lawful authority, duties, and responsibilities of forest wardens, including but not limited to the provisions of Chapter 11 (\u00a7 10.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 10.1. Personnel from the news media, such as the press, radio, and television, when gathering the news may enter at their own risk into the incident area only when the officer in charge has deemed the area safe and only into those areas of the incident that do not, in the opinion of the officer in charge, interfere with the fire department or fire company, firefighters, or emergency medical services personnel dealing with such emergencies, in which case the chief or other officer in charge may order such person from the scene of the emergency incident.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":301998,"text":"While any fire department or fire company is in the process of answering an alarm where there is imminent danger or the actual occurrence of fire or explosion or the uncontrolled release of hazardous materials that threaten life or property and returning to the station, the chief or other officer in charge of such fire department or fire company at that time shall have the authority to (i) maintain order at such emergency incident or its vicinity, including the immediate airspace; (ii) direct the actions of the firefighters at the incident; (iii) notwithstanding the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 46.2-888 through 46.2-891, keep bystanders or other persons at a safe distance from the incident and emergency equipment; (iv) facilitate the speedy movement and operation of emergency equipment and firefighters; (v) cause an investigation to be made into the origin and cause of the incident; and (vi) until the arrival of a police officer, direct and control traffic in person or by deputy and facilitate the movement of traffic. The fire chief or other officer in charge shall display his firefighter’s badge or other proper means of identification. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this authority shall extend to the activation of traffic control signals designed to facilitate the safe egress and ingress of emergency equipment at a fire station. Any person or persons refusing to obey the orders of the chief or other officer in charge at that time is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. The chief or other officer in charge shall have the power to make arrests for violation of the provisions of this section. The authority granted under the provisions of this section may not be exercised to inhibit or obstruct members of law-enforcement agencies or emergency medical services agencies from performing their normal duties when operating at such emergency incident, nor to conflict with or diminish the lawful authority, duties, and responsibilities of forest wardens, including but not limited to the provisions of Chapter 11 (\u00a7 10.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 10.1. Personnel from the news media, such as the press, radio, and television, when gathering the news may enter at their own risk into the incident area only when the officer in charge has deemed the area safe and only into those areas of the incident that do not, in the opinion of the officer in charge, interfere with the fire department or fire company, firefighters, or emergency medical services personnel dealing with such emergencies, in which case the chief or other officer in charge may order such person from the scene of the emergency incident.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13506,"edition_id":1,"name":"Provisions Applicable to Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13505,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:05","permalink":{"id":190019,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13506,"identifier":"1","token":"27\/2\/1","url":"\/27\/2\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13505,"edition_id":1,"name":"Fire\/Ems Departments and Fire\/Ems Companies","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13504,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:05","permalink":{"id":190017,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13505,"identifier":"2","token":"27\/2","url":"\/27\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13504,"edition_id":1,"name":"Fire Protection","identifier":"27","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:05","permalink":{"id":189965,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13504,"identifier":"27","token":"27","url":"\/27\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":62509,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-10","catch_line":"Dissolution of fire company","url":"\/27-10\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-10","metadata":false},{"id":56382,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-11","catch_line":"Duty of members on alarm of fire or call of a medical emergency","url":"\/27-11\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-11","metadata":false},{"id":61993,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-12","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-12\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-12","metadata":false},{"id":73496,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-13","catch_line":"Appointment of chief and other officers","url":"\/27-13\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-13","metadata":false},{"id":85945,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-14","catch_line":"Ordinances as to fire departments and fire companies","url":"\/27-14\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-14","metadata":false},{"id":58359,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-15","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-15\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-15","metadata":false},{"id":84253,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-15.1","catch_line":"Authority of chief or other officer in charge when answering alarm; penalty for refusal to obey orders","url":"\/27-15.1\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-15.1","metadata":false},{"id":65165,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-15.1:1","catch_line":"Penalty for refusing or neglecting to obey order of chief or other officer in command","url":"\/27-15.1_1\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-15.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":83050,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-15.2","catch_line":"Purchase, maintenance, etc., of equipment; donated equipment","url":"\/27-15.2\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-15.2","metadata":false},{"id":66768,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-15.3","catch_line":"Purchase of service-issued boots or helmet by certain firefighters","url":"\/27-15.3\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-15.3","metadata":false},{"id":78029,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-16","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-16\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-16","metadata":false},{"id":71895,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-17","catch_line":"Entry of buildings on fire and premises adjoining","url":"\/27-17\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-17","metadata":false},{"id":69462,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-17.1","catch_line":"Remaining on premises after fire extinguished","url":"\/27-17.1\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-17.1","metadata":false},{"id":73862,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-18","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-18\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-18","metadata":false},{"id":81538,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-19","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-19\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-19","metadata":false},{"id":83964,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-20","catch_line":"Destruction of property to prevent spread of fire","url":"\/27-20\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-20","metadata":false},{"id":55035,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-21","catch_line":"Owner may recover amount of actual damage","url":"\/27-21\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-21","metadata":false},{"id":54471,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-22","catch_line":"But not for property which would have been destroyed by the fire","url":"\/27-22\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-22","metadata":false},{"id":61677,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-23\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23","metadata":false},{"id":57518,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.1","catch_line":"Establishment of fire zones or districts; tax levies","url":"\/27-23.1\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.1","metadata":false},{"id":83173,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.10","catch_line":"Ordinances to effectuate purposes of \u00a7 27-23.9","url":"\/27-23.10\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.10","metadata":false},{"id":60550,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.11","catch_line":"Firefighter electric vehicles fire training","url":"\/27-23.11\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.11","metadata":false},{"id":70342,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.2","catch_line":"Advances by city or county to fire zone or district","url":"\/27-23.2\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.2","metadata":false},{"id":59783,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.3","catch_line":"Reimbursement for advances","url":"\/27-23.3\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.3","metadata":false},{"id":77459,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.4","catch_line":"Validation of prior advances","url":"\/27-23.4\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.4","metadata":false},{"id":77638,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.5","catch_line":"Exclusion of certain areas from fire zones or districts and exemption of such areas from certain levies","url":"\/27-23.5\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.5","metadata":false},{"id":74020,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.6","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-23.6\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.6","metadata":false},{"id":80310,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.7","catch_line":"Special levy for fire protection in certain counties","url":"\/27-23.7\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.7","metadata":false},{"id":82775,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.8","catch_line":"Trial board for members of fire departments in certain counties","url":"\/27-23.8\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.8","metadata":false},{"id":60111,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.9","catch_line":"Supervision and control of joint services of fire companies or departments","url":"\/27-23.9\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.9","metadata":false},{"id":67456,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-6","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-6\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-6","metadata":false},{"id":66545,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-6.01","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/27-6.01\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-6.01","metadata":false},{"id":86797,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-6.02","catch_line":"Provision of firefighting services","url":"\/27-6.02\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-6.02","metadata":false},{"id":70855,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-6.1","catch_line":"Establishment of fire department; chief, officers, and employees","url":"\/27-6.1\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-6.1","metadata":false},{"id":83645,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-6.2","catch_line":"Applicant preemployment information with fire departments","url":"\/27-6.2\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-6.2","metadata":false},{"id":78046,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-7","catch_line":"Bylaws of fire department; compensation of officers and employees; information on check stubs, time cards, etc","url":"\/27-7\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-7","metadata":false},{"id":67801,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-8","catch_line":"Who may form a fire company; limit on number of persons in combined companies","url":"\/27-8\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-8","metadata":false},{"id":56841,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-8.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-8.1\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-8.1","metadata":false},{"id":80425,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-9","catch_line":"Organization of fire company","url":"\/27-9\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":58359,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-15","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-15\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-15","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":65165,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-15.1:1","catch_line":"Penalty for refusing or neglecting to obey order of chief or other officer in command","url":"\/27-15.1_1\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-15.1_1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/27-15.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1970. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 187 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1970 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 6 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1977, chapter 326; in 1984, chapter 644; in 2001, chapter 142<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 410<\/a>; in 2015, chapters 502<\/a> and 503<\/a>; in 2017, chapter 517<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":74017,"section_number":"10.1-1100","catch_line":"Department of Forestry; appointment of the State Forester","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-1100\/"},{"id":75137,"section_number":"46.2-888","catch_line":"Stopping on highways; removing motor vehicle from roadway","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-888\/"},{"id":67800,"section_number":"46.2-891","catch_line":"Exemption for highway construction and maintenance vehicles","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-891\/"}],"permalink":{"id":190045,"object_type":"law","relational_id":84253,"identifier":"27-15.1","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-15.1","url":"\/27-15.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/27-15.1\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-15.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Authority of chief or other officer in charge when answering alarm; penalty for refusal to obey orders","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 27-15.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

While any fire department<\/span> or fire company<\/span> is in the process of answering an alarm where there is imminent danger or the actual occurrence of fire or explosion or the uncontrolled release of hazardous materials<\/span> that threaten life or property and returning to the station, the chief or other officer in charge of such fire department<\/span> or fire company<\/span> at that time shall have the authority to (i) maintain order<\/span> at such emergency incident or its vicinity, including the immediate airspace; (ii) direct the actions of the firefighters at the incident; (iii) notwithstanding the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 46.2-888<\/a> through 46.2-891<\/a>, keep bystanders or other persons at a safe distance from the incident and emergency equipment; (iv) facilitate the speedy movement and operation of emergency equipment and firefighters; (v) cause an investigation to be made into the origin and cause of the incident; and (vi) until the arrival of a police officer, direct and control traffic in person or by deputy and facilitate the movement of traffic. The fire chief or other officer in charge shall display his firefighter’s badge or other proper means of identification. Notwithstanding any other provision of law<\/span>, this authority shall extend to the activation of traffic control signals designed to facilitate the safe egress and ingress of emergency equipment at a fire station. Any person or persons refusing to obey the orders<\/span> of the chief or other officer in charge at that time is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor<\/span>. The chief or other officer in charge shall have the power to make arrests<\/span> for violation of the provisions of this section. The authority granted under the provisions of this section may not be exercised to inhibit or obstruct members of law<\/span>-enforcement agencies or emergency medical services agencies from performing their normal duties when operating at such emergency incident, nor to conflict with or diminish the lawful authority, duties, and responsibilities of forest wardens, including but not limited to the provisions of Chapter 11 (\u00a7 10.1-1100<\/a> et seq.) of Title 10.1. Personnel from the news media, such as the press, radio, and television, when gathering the news may enter at their own risk into the incident area only when the officer in charge has deemed the area safe and only into those areas of the incident that do not, in the opinion<\/span> of the officer in charge, interfere with the fire department<\/span> or fire company<\/span>, firefighters, or emergency medical services personnel dealing with such emergencies, in which case the chief or other officer in charge may order<\/span> such person from the scene of the emergency incident.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nAUTHORITY OF CHIEF OR OTHER OFFICER IN CHARGE WHEN ANSWERING ALARM; PENALTY FOR\nREFUSAL TO OBEY ORDERS (\u00a7 27-15.1)\n\nWhile any fire department or fire company is in the process of answering an\nalarm where there is imminent danger or the actual occurrence of fire or\nexplosion or the uncontrolled release of hazardous materials that threaten life\nor property and returning to the station, the chief or other officer in charge\nof such fire department or fire company at that time shall have the authority to\n(i) maintain order at such emergency incident or its vicinity, including the\nimmediate airspace; (ii) direct the actions of the firefighters at the incident;\n(iii) notwithstanding the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 46.2-888 through 46.2-891, keep\nbystanders or other persons at a safe distance from the incident and emergency\nequipment; (iv) facilitate the speedy movement and operation of emergency\nequipment and firefighters; (v) cause an investigation to be made into the\norigin and cause of the incident; and (vi) until the arrival of a police\nofficer, direct and control traffic in person or by deputy and facilitate the\nmovement of traffic. The fire chief or other officer in charge shall display his\nfirefighter’s badge or other proper means of identification.\nNotwithstanding any other provision of law, this authority shall extend to the\nactivation of traffic control signals designed to facilitate the safe egress and\ningress of emergency equipment at a fire station. Any person or persons refusing\nto obey the orders of the chief or other officer in charge at that time is\nguilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. The chief or other officer in charge shall have\nthe power to make arrests for violation of the provisions of this section. The\nauthority granted under the provisions of this section may not be exercised to\ninhibit or obstruct members of law-enforcement agencies or emergency medical\nservices agencies from performing their normal duties when operating at such\nemergency incident, nor to conflict with or diminish the lawful authority,\nduties, and responsibilities of forest wardens, including but not limited to the\nprovisions of Chapter 11 (\u00a7 10.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 10.1. Personnel from\nthe news media, such as the press, radio, and television, when gathering the\nnews may enter at their own risk into the incident area only when the officer in\ncharge has deemed the area safe and only into those areas of the incident that\ndo not, in the opinion of the officer in charge, interfere with the fire\ndepartment or fire company, firefighters, or emergency medical services\npersonnel dealing with such emergencies, in which case the chief or other\nofficer in charge may order such person from the scene of the emergency\nincident.\n\nHISTORY: 1970, c. 187; 1977, c. 326; 1984, c. 644; 2001, c. 142; 2008, c. 410;\n2015, cc. 502, 503; 2017, c. 517.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}