{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/27-32.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/27-32.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/27-32.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/27-32.html"}],"law_id":66318,"edition_id":1,"section_id":66318,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-32","catch_line":"Summoning witnesses and taking evidence","history":"Code 1919, \u00a7\u00a7 3138, 4808, 4810; 1970, c. 187; 1997, c. 436; 2008, cc. 551, 691.","full_text":"In making investigations pursuant to \u00a7 27-31, the fire marshal may issue a summons directed to a sheriff or sergeant of any county, city or town commanding the officer to summon witnesses to attend before him at such time and place as he may direct. Any such officer to whom the summons is delivered, shall forthwith execute it, and make return thereof to the fire marshal at the time and place named therein.\n\t\tWitnesses, on whom the summons before mentioned is served, may be compelled by the fire marshal to attend and give evidence, and shall be liable in like manner as if the summons had been issued by a magistrate in a criminal case. They shall be sworn by the fire marshal before giving evidence, and their evidence shall be reduced to writing by him, or under his direction, and subscribed by them respectively.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":240807,"text":"In making investigations pursuant to \u00a7 27-31, the fire marshal may issue a summons directed to a sheriff or sergeant of any county, city or town commanding the officer to summon witnesses to attend before him at such time and place as he may direct. Any such officer to whom the summons is delivered, shall forthwith execute it, and make return thereof to the fire marshal at the time and place named therein.\n\t\tWitnesses, on whom the summons before mentioned is served, may be compelled by the fire marshal to attend and give evidence, and shall be liable in like manner as if the summons had been issued by a magistrate in a criminal case. They shall be sworn by the fire marshal before giving evidence, and their evidence shall be reduced to writing by him, or under his direction, and subscribed by them respectively.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"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":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},"next_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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/27-32\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\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 1970, chapter 187; in 1997, chapter 436<\/a>; in 2008, chapters 551<\/a> and 691<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":58177,"section_number":"27-31","catch_line":"Investigation of fires and explosions","order_by":null,"url":"\/27-31\/"}],"permalink":{"id":190193,"object_type":"law","relational_id":66318,"identifier":"27-32","token":"27\/3\/27-32","url":"\/27-32\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/27-32\/","token":"27\/3\/27-32","dublin_core":{"Title":"Summoning witnesses and taking evidence","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 27-32","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

In making investigations pursuant to \u00a7 27-31<\/a>, the fire marshal may issue<\/span> a summons<\/span> directed to a sheriff or sergeant of any county, city or town commanding the officer to summon witnesses to attend before him at such time and place as he may direct. Any such officer to whom the summons<\/span> is delivered, shall forthwith execute it, and make return thereof to the fire marshal at the time and place named therein.\n\t\tWitnesses, on whom the summons<\/span> before mentioned is served, may be compelled by the fire marshal to attend and give evidence<\/span>, and shall be liable in like manner as if the summons<\/span> had been issued by a magistrate<\/span> in a criminal case. They shall be sworn by the fire marshal before giving evidence<\/span>, and their evidence<\/span> shall be reduced to writing by him, or under his direction, and subscribed by them respectively.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSUMMONING WITNESSES AND TAKING EVIDENCE (\u00a7 27-32)\n\nIn making investigations pursuant to \u00a7 27-31, the fire marshal may issue a\nsummons directed to a sheriff or sergeant of any county, city or town commanding\nthe officer to summon witnesses to attend before him at such time and place as\nhe may direct. Any such officer to whom the summons is delivered, shall\nforthwith execute it, and make return thereof to the fire marshal at the time\nand place named therein.\n\t\tWitnesses, on whom the summons before mentioned is served, may be compelled by\nthe fire marshal to attend and give evidence, and shall be liable in like manner\nas if the summons had been issued by a magistrate in a criminal case. They shall\nbe sworn by the fire marshal before giving evidence, and their evidence shall be\nreduced to writing by him, or under his direction, and subscribed by them\nrespectively.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1919, \u00a7\u00a7 3138, 4808, 4810; 1970, c. 187; 1997, c. 436; 2008, cc.\n551, 691.","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}}