§ 14-131. Police powers.

(a)

Officer authority. The fire chief or officer in command at any emergency response is vested with full police authority. Furthermore, any officer of the fire and emergency medical services department may cause the arrest of any person failing to give the right-of-way to the fire and emergency medical services department in responding to an emergency.

(b)

Emergency scene security. The fire chief or officer in command shall have the following authority on emergency scenes:

(1)

The fire chief, or officer in command, may prescribe certain limits in the vicinity of any emergency response within which no person, excepting firefighters and law enforcement officers and those admitted by order of any officer of the department, shall be permitted to come.

(2)

The chief, or officer in command, shall cause the removal of any property whenever it becomes necessary for the preservation of such property from fire or to prevent the spreading of fire or protect adjoining property. During the progress of any fire, the chief shall order the removal or destruction of any property necessary to prevent the further spread of fire. The chief shall also cause the removal of all wires or other facilities and the turning off of all utility services where the same impedes the work of the department during the progress of a fire.

(c)

Entering adjacent property. Any firefighter, while acting under the direction of the fire chief or other officer in command, may enter upon the premises adjacent to or in the vicinity of any building or property other than the one which is on fire for the purpose of extinguishing such fire. Any EMT or driver, while acting under the direction of the fire chief or other officer in command, may enter upon any premises, building or property for the purpose of providing emergency medical services or support services to the fire and emergency medical services department. No person shall hinder, resist or obstruct any EMT or driver in the discharge of their duty as hereinbefore provided. No person shall hinder, resist or obstruct any firefighter, EMT, or driver in the discharge of his duty as provided in this article.

(d)

Duties of bystanders to assist. Every person who shall be present at an emergency scene shall be subject to the orders of the officers and may be required to peripherally assist personnel from the fire and emergency medical services department when so ordered. Such officers shall have the power to cause the arrest of any person refusing to obey such orders.

(Code 1981, § 5.05)