{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/27-32.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/27-32.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/27-32.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/27-32.2.html"}],"law_id":70646,"edition_id":1,"section_id":70646,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-32.2","catch_line":"Issuance of fire investigation warrant","history":"1987, c. 701; 2008, cc. 551, 691; 2012, cc. 279, 330; 2014, c. 354.","full_text":"A\n\nIf, in undertaking such an investigation, the fire marshal or investigator appointed pursuant to § 27-56 makes an affidavit under oath that the origin or cause of any fire or explosion on any land, building, or vessel, or of any object is undetermined and that he has been refused admittance thereto, or is unable to gain permission to enter such land, building, or vessel, or to examine such object, within 15 days after the extinguishing of such, any magistrate serving the city or county where the land, building, vessel, or object is located may issue a fire investigation warrant to the fire marshal or investigator appointed pursuant to § 27-56 authorizing him to enter such land, building, vessel, or the premises upon which the object is located for the purpose of determining the origin and source of such fire or explosion. After issuing a warrant under this section, the magistrate shall file the affidavit in the manner prescribed by § 19.2-54. After executing the warrant, the fire marshal, or investigator appointed pursuant to § 27-56, shall return the warrant to the clerk of the circuit court of the city or county wherein the investigation was made.B\n\nIf the fire marshal or investigator appointed pursuant to § 27-56, after gaining access to any land, building, vessel, or other premises pursuant to such a fire investigation warrant, has probable cause to believe that the burning or explosion was caused by any act constituting a criminal offense, he shall discontinue the investigation until a search warrant has been obtained pursuant to § 27-32.1, or consent to conduct the search has otherwise been given.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":254865,"text":"If, in undertaking such an investigation, the fire marshal or investigator appointed pursuant to § 27-56 makes an affidavit under oath that the origin or cause of any fire or explosion on any land, building, or vessel, or of any object is undetermined and that he has been refused admittance thereto, or is unable to gain permission to enter such land, building, or vessel, or to examine such object, within 15 days after the extinguishing of such, any magistrate serving the city or county where the land, building, vessel, or object is located may issue a fire investigation warrant to the fire marshal or investigator appointed pursuant to § 27-56 authorizing him to enter such land, building, vessel, or the premises upon which the object is located for the purpose of determining the origin and source of such fire or explosion. After issuing a warrant under this section, the magistrate shall file the affidavit in the manner prescribed by § 19.2-54. After executing the warrant, the fire marshal, or investigator appointed pursuant to § 27-56, shall return the warrant to the clerk of the circuit court of the city or county wherein the investigation was made.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":254866,"text":"If the fire marshal or investigator appointed pursuant to § 27-56, after gaining access to any land, building, vessel, or other premises pursuant to such a fire investigation warrant, has probable cause to believe that the burning or explosion was caused by any act constituting a criminal offense, he shall discontinue the investigation until a search warrant has been obtained pursuant to § 27-32.1, or consent to conduct the search has otherwise been given.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15172,"edition_id":1,"name":"Local Fire Marshals","identifier":"3","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13504,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:52:41","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:52:41","permalink":{"id":190183,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15172,"identifier":"3","token":"27\/3","url":"\/27\/3\/","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":69739,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-30","catch_line":"Appointment of fire marshal","url":"\/27-30\/","token":"27\/3\/27-30","metadata":false},{"id":58177,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-31","catch_line":"Investigation of fires and explosions","url":"\/27-31\/","token":"27\/3\/27-31","metadata":false},{"id":66318,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-32","catch_line":"Summoning witnesses and taking evidence","url":"\/27-32\/","token":"27\/3\/27-32","metadata":false},{"id":65417,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-32.1","catch_line":"Right of entry to investigate cause of fire or explosion","url":"\/27-32.1\/","token":"27\/3\/27-32.1","metadata":false},{"id":70646,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-32.2","catch_line":"Issuance of fire investigation warrant","url":"\/27-32.2\/","token":"27\/3\/27-32.2","metadata":false},{"id":57781,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-33","catch_line":"Report of investigation","url":"\/27-33\/","token":"27\/3\/27-33","metadata":false},{"id":63090,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-34","catch_line":"Duties and powers at fires","url":"\/27-34\/","token":"27\/3\/27-34","metadata":false},{"id":77843,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-34.1","catch_line":"Power of fire marshal or fire chief to take property found at scene of fire or explosion; restitution of such property","url":"\/27-34.1\/","token":"27\/3\/27-34.1","metadata":false},{"id":73497,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-34.2","catch_line":"Power to arrest, to procure and serve warrants and to issue summons; limitation on authority","url":"\/27-34.2\/","token":"27\/3\/27-34.2","metadata":false},{"id":66294,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-34.2:1","catch_line":"Police powers of fire marshals","url":"\/27-34.2_1\/","token":"27\/3\/27-34.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":78703,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-34.3","catch_line":"Power to order immediate compliance with law, etc., or prohibit use of building or equipment","url":"\/27-34.3\/","token":"27\/3\/27-34.3","metadata":false},{"id":63484,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-34.4","catch_line":"Inspection and review of plans of buildings under construction","url":"\/27-34.4\/","token":"27\/3\/27-34.4","metadata":false},{"id":84379,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-35","catch_line":"Penalty for failure to discharge duty","url":"\/27-35\/","token":"27\/3\/27-35","metadata":false},{"id":83809,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-36","catch_line":"Appointment, powers and duties of assistant fire marshals","url":"\/27-36\/","token":"27\/3\/27-36","metadata":false},{"id":87151,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-37","catch_line":"Oath of fire marshal and assistants","url":"\/27-37\/","token":"27\/3\/27-37","metadata":false},{"id":84739,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-37.1","catch_line":"Right of entry to investigate releases of hazardous material, hazardous waste, or regulated substances","url":"\/27-37.1\/","token":"27\/3\/27-37.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":65417,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-32.1","catch_line":"Right of entry to investigate cause of fire or explosion","url":"\/27-32.1\/","token":"27\/3\/27-32.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":57781,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-33","catch_line":"Report of investigation","url":"\/27-33\/","token":"27\/3\/27-33","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/27-32.2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1987. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 701 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 1987 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 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 2008, chapters 551<\/a> and 691<\/a>; in 2012, chapters 279<\/a> and 330<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 354<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":78769,"section_number":"19.2-54","catch_line":"Affidavit preliminary to issuance of search warrant; general search warrant prohibited; effect of failure to file affidavit","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-54\/"},{"id":65417,"section_number":"27-32.1","catch_line":"Right of entry to investigate cause of fire or explosion","order_by":null,"url":"\/27-32.1\/"},{"id":69427,"section_number":"27-56","catch_line":"Department to examine into origin of fires; appointment of arson investigators","order_by":null,"url":"\/27-56\/"}],"permalink":{"id":190201,"object_type":"law","relational_id":70646,"identifier":"27-32.2","token":"27\/3\/27-32.2","url":"\/27-32.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/27-32.2\/","token":"27\/3\/27-32.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Issuance of fire investigation warrant","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 27-32.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> If, in undertaking such an investigation, the fire marshal or investigator appointed pursuant to § 27-56<\/a> makes an affidavit<\/span> under oath<\/span> that the origin or cause of any fire or explosion on any land, building, or vessel, or of any object<\/span> is undetermined and that he has been refused admittance thereto, or is unable to gain permission to enter such land, building, or vessel, or to examine such object<\/span>, within 15 days after the extinguishing of such, any magistrate<\/span> serving the city or county where the land, building, vessel, or object<\/span> is located may issue<\/span> a fire investigation warrant to the fire marshal or investigator appointed pursuant to § 27-56<\/a> authorizing him to enter such land, building, vessel, or the premises upon which the object<\/span> is located for the purpose of determining the origin and source of such fire or explosion. After issuing a warrant under this section, the magistrate<\/span> shall file the affidavit<\/span> in the manner prescribed by § 19.2-54<\/a>. After executing the warrant, the fire marshal, or investigator appointed pursuant to § 27-56<\/a>, shall return the warrant to the clerk of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> of the city or county wherein the investigation was made. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> If the fire marshal or investigator appointed pursuant to § 27-56<\/a>, after gaining access to any land, building, vessel, or other premises pursuant to such a fire investigation warrant, has probable cause<\/span> to believe that the burning or explosion was caused by any act constituting a criminal offense<\/span>, he shall discontinue the investigation until a search warrant<\/span> has been obtained pursuant to § 27-32.1<\/a>, or consent to conduct the search has otherwise been given. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nISSUANCE OF FIRE INVESTIGATION WARRANT (\u00a7 27-32.2)\n\nA. If, in undertaking such an investigation, the fire marshal or investigator\nappointed pursuant to § 27-56 makes an affidavit under oath that the origin\nor cause of any fire or explosion on any land, building, or vessel, or of any\nobject is undetermined and that he has been refused admittance thereto, or is\nunable to gain permission to enter such land, building, or vessel, or to examine\nsuch object, within 15 days after the extinguishing of such, any magistrate\nserving the city or county where the land, building, vessel, or object is\nlocated may issue a fire investigation warrant to the fire marshal or\ninvestigator appointed pursuant to § 27-56 authorizing him to enter such\nland, building, vessel, or the premises upon which the object is located for the\npurpose of determining the origin and source of such fire or explosion. After\nissuing a warrant under this section, the magistrate shall file the affidavit in\nthe manner prescribed by § 19.2-54. After executing the warrant, the fire\nmarshal, or investigator appointed pursuant to § 27-56, shall return the\nwarrant to the clerk of the circuit court of the city or county wherein the\ninvestigation was made.\n\nB. If the fire marshal or investigator appointed pursuant to § 27-56, after\ngaining access to any land, building, vessel, or other premises pursuant to such\na fire investigation warrant, has probable cause to believe that the burning or\nexplosion was caused by any act constituting a criminal offense, he shall\ndiscontinue the investigation until a search warrant has been obtained pursuant\nto § 27-32.1, or consent to conduct the search has otherwise been given.\n\nHISTORY: 1987, c. 701; 2008, cc. 551, 691; 2012, cc. 279, 330; 2014, c. 354.","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}}