PRINTER'S NO. 1356
No. 1150 Session of 1977
INTRODUCED BY PITTS, A. K. HUTCHINSON, PETRARCA, MORRIS,
DeVERTER, HALVERSON, MANMILLER, SIRIANNI, VROON, KLINGAMAN,
ZELLER AND LEHR, MAY 24, 1977
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, MAY 24, 1977
AN ACT
1 Relating to the authority of certain fire department and fire
2 and rescue company officers in certain emergencies,
3 prohibiting certain acts and prescribing penalties.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Authority of fire and rescue officers in charge.
7 While any duly organized paid or volunteer fire department or
8 company and rescue company are responding to, operating at, or
9 returning from a fire, service call, or other emergency, the
10 fire chief, any other elected or appointed fire line officer, or
11 any member serving in the capacity of fire officer-in-charge,
12 and in the event of a response by a rescue company without a
13 fire company, the rescue officer in charge shall have the
14 authority:
15 (1) Of controlling and directing the activities at such
16 scene.
17 (2) To order any person or persons to leave any building
18 or place in the vicinity of such scene for the purpose of
1 protecting such persons from injury.
2 (3) To blockade any public highway, street, or private
3 right-of-way temporarily while at such scene.
4 (4) To trespass at any time of the day or night without
5 liability while at such scene.
6 (5) To enter any building, including private dwellings,
7 or upon any premises where a fire is in progress, or where
8 there is reasonable cause to believe a fire is in progress,
9 for the purpose of extinguishing the fire, and eliminating
10 the hazard or saving life.
11 (6) To enter any building, including private dwellings,
12 or premises endangered by fire for the purpose of protecting
13 the building or premises or for the purpose of extinguishing
14 the fire and eliminating the hazard which is in progress in
15 another building or premises.
16 (7) To order the disengagement or uncoupling of any
17 convoy, caravan, or train of vehicles, craft or railway cars
18 if the officer in charge deems it a necessity in the interest
19 of safety of persons or property.
20 (8) To take command of all industrial management, fire
21 brigades or fire chiefs whenever his company or department is
22 called to respond to such; if in his opinion such action is
23 in the interest of public safety.
24 Section 2. Penalty.
25 Any owner or any occupant of any building or premises or any
26 other person who refuses to obey the orders of a fire officer-
27 in-charge or rescue officer in charge in the exercise of his
28 duties shall be guilty of a summary offense.
29 Section 3. Effective date.
30 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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