While any fire and EMS department or volunteer fire department in the county is in
the process of answering a fire alarm or extinguishing a fire and returning to the
station, the fire chief or other officer in charge at that time shall have the authority
to (1) maintain order at the fire or its vicinity; (2) direct the actions of the firefighters
at the fire; (3) keep bystanders or other persons at a safe distance from the fire
and fire equipment; (4) facilitate the speedy movement and operation of fire-fighting
equipment and firefighters and (5) 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's badge. 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 fire-fighting equipment
at a fire station. 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 class
4 misdemeanor. The fire chief or other officer in charge shall have the power to make
arrests for violation of the provisions of this section.
(Code 1978, § 14.1-3; Ord. of 6-26-19(1) § 1)
