Chap. 351.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 545 of the Code of Virginia,
as amended by an act approved March 25, 1926, relating to fires and fire
protection, and providing penalties. [H B 197]

Approved March 26, 1932

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That section
five hundred and forty-five of the Code of Virginia, as amended by an
act approved March twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred and twenty-six, be
amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

Section 545. It shall be unlawful for any person or corporation, as
land owner, to set or to procure another to set, fire to any woods, brush,
logs, leaves, grass or clearing upon their own land unless they exer-
cise reasonable care and precaution to prevent the spread of-such fire
to other lands not their own. It shall also be unlawful for any lessee,
tenant, or employee, to set fire contrary to the provisions of this sec-
tion, on any land which he may lease or on which he may be employed.
If because of failure to exercise the care and precaution prescribed in
this section the fire does escape to adjoining property the person who
set such fire, or who procured another to set it, ‘shall be deemed to. have
violated the provisions of this section.

Any person setting or procuring another fees set fire without having
exercised the care and the precautions required. in this section shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon- conviction thereof, shall be fined
not less than ten nor more than one hundred dollars for each offense,
and shall be liable for the full amount of all expenses incurred by the
State or county for fighting the fire.