Section 9: Duties of Police in case of fire

9. Duties of Police in case of fire (1) Any police officer, on learning of an outbreak of fire, shall promptly inform the Fire Services headquarters and police headquarters. (2) The senior police officer at the scene of the fire shall maintain order and take such steps as may be laid down by the Commissioner of Police for ensuring the maintenance of order, and may, for the purpose of extinguishing the fire or protecting life and property, authorise any police officer or constable to prevent the entry of persons or vehicles into any place, whether public or privately owned, to enter any land or building without the consent of the owner or occupier, and do such acts there, whether causing damage or not, as are reasonably required for those purposes. (3) Any act which may be done by a police officer under subsection (2) may also be done by any fireman acting under the direct orders of an officer of the Fire Services. (4) No action for damages in respect of anything done under subsections (2) and (3) shall be maintained against the Fire Services, any police officer, any officer of the Fire Services or any fireman. [Issue 1] F13 – 2 (5) Any person who wilfully obstructs or hinders any police officer, any officer of the Fire Services or any fireman in the execution of the powers conferred upon him by this section shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 500 rupees or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months.