CHAPTER 545

AN ACT to amend and reenact § 27-25.1, as amended, of the Code of Vir-
ginia, relating to certain authority of fire fighting officials and pro-
viding penalties for violations. 3 4R

[ ]

Approved March 29, 1958

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 27-25.1, as amended, of the Code of Virginia, be amended and re-
enacted as follows:

§ 27-25.1. While any fire department or volunteer fire department
in any county under the provisions of Chapter 2 of this Title is in the
process of answering an alarm of fire or extinguishing a fire and return-
ing to station the fire chief or other officer in charge of such fire depart-
ment at that time shall have the authority to: Maintain order at the fire
or its vicinity, direct the actions of the firemen at the fire, keep bystanders
or other persons at a safe distance from the fire and fire equipment, *
facilitate the speedy movement and operation of fire fighting equipment
and firemen and, *until the arrival of a police officer, direct and control
traffic in person or by deputy and factlitate the movement of traffic.
The fire chief or other officer in charge shall display his fireman’s badge.
Any person or persons refusing to obey the orders of the fire chief or
his deputies or other officer in charge at that time shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of
not less than ten dollars nor more than one hundred dollars. The fire
chief or other officer in charge shall have the power to make arrests for
violation of the provisions of this section.