Powers of Officer-in-Charge at scene of fire or other disaster

(1) On the occurrence of a fire or any other disaster, the Fire Chief or the Officer-in-Charge at the scene of the fire or other disaster may in his absolute discretion, (a) call upon any onlooker or other person to assist in anyway in which the services of such onlooker may be required either at the scene of the fire or other disaster, or at any fire station, or while proceeding to or from the scene of the fire or other disaster; (b) take command of and supervise other persons (hereinafter referred to as “volunteers”) who may volunteer their services to him and place such persons at his disposal; (c) remove, or order a subordinate officer of the Service to remove, any person who by his presence or conduct interferes with or obstructs the operations of the Service; 13 (d) cause any water supply to be disconnected from the main water supply system and pipe of any district or area in order to give a greater supply and pressure of water in the district or area in which the fire or other disaster has occurred; (e) direct any officer of the Service or any of the persons referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection to enter in or upon any public or private premises whereon water is stored and to remove and use such water for the purpose of extinguishing or preventing the spread of the fire or other disaster. (2) Every onlooker who refuses to assist when called upon to do so by the Fire Chief or the Officer-in-Charge at the scene of a fire or other disaster commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding four hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two months. (3) Every person who prevents or attempts to prevent, or aids or assists in preventing or attempting to prevent, or molests or hinders the Fire Chief, Officer-in-Charge, officers of the Service, volunteers or persons referred to in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section from executing any duty or lawful orders provided in, or given pursuant to, subsection (1) of this section, commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or to both such fine and period of imprisonment.