                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

AUTHORITY OF CHIEF OR OTHER OFFICER IN CHARGE WHEN ANSWERING ALARM; PENALTY FOR
REFUSAL TO OBEY ORDERS (§ 27-15.1)

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 §§ 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&#8217;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 (§ 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.

HISTORY: 1970, c. 187; 1977, c. 326; 1984, c. 644; 2001, c. 142; 2008, c. 410;
2015, cc. 502, 503; 2017, c. 517.