Section 17: Rules.

CHAPTER 68. FREETOWN FIRE PREVENTION MEASURES. An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the law relating to the protection of the City of Freetown from fire. [18TH MAY, 1. This Ordinance rna y be cited as the Freetown Fire Prevention Measures Ordinance. 2. In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires- " City " means the City of Freetown as defined in t~e Freetown Municipality Ordinance, or any Ordinance substl' tuted therefor. " Fire Authority " means the City Council of Freetown &5 constituted by the same Ordinances. " Fire Brigade " includes all such persons as are from ti:trle to time employed by the Fire Autho;rity as officers of the Fire Brigade or firemen and all such apparatus, equipment aJIJj Freetown Fire Prevention Measures [Cap. 68 . 1 ents as the Fire Authority shall or may provide for ~~r :fltcient protection of life and property in case of fire in the City. ,, Fire Brigade Headquarters " means the place for the . being notified in the Gazette by the Fire Authority ·as tune f h F. B · dthe Headquarters o t e 1re nga e. 3 The Fire Authority shall employ such number of firemen d. shall provide such equipment as to meet efficiently all an . t · r:mal reqmremen s.110 · h 11 · h ffi ·4 The Fire Authonty s a appomt sue o cers to tram, ·age and control the Fire Brigade as they think necessary, ~ ~~g not less than two, and the Fire Authority shall nominate Je~. of such officers to be the Fire Brigade Commander and ~~other to be the Assistant Fire Force Commander. 5 On an alarm of fire being communicated to them, the Chi~f Fire Officer or Assistant Chief Fire Officer together with the firemen then on duty, shall proceed as quickly as possible to the locality of the fire with all such fire-fighting apparatus, safety equipment and other implements, as are requisite and aYailable. 6. (1) Notwithstanding any law or custom to the contrary, all vehicular traffic in the City shall give way to the Fire Brigade when proceeding to the locality of a fire. (2) Any person in charge or control of any vehicle who neglects or refuses to comply with the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding ten pounds or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months . . 7. (1) .Any Police Officer on learning of an outbreak of fire 111 ~he q1ty shall promptly inform Fire Brigade Headquarters anct_ Pohce Headquarters and shall within the vicinity of the ~uFt?re~,k give the alarm by blowing his whistle and crying ·Ire. (2) The Senior Police Officer at the scene of the fire shall take ~~eh step_s as may be laid down by the Commissioner of Police nu~hns_urmg the maintenance of order, and shall have power to lifu :~~e; for the purpose of extinguishing the fire or protectirtg persons prope~ty, ~ny Police Officer to prevent the entry of ow~ d or vehiCles mto any place whether public or privatelycons:nt a~d to enter into an~ land or building without the · 0 the owner or occupier thereof, and to do such acts Firemen and equipment. 20 of 1959. Officers. Duties of Fire Brigade on alarm being given. Right of way of Fire Brigade when proceeding to a fire. Duties of Police Force in case of fire. Senior Fire Officer to have control of firefighting operations. Fire alarms. False alarms of fire. Fire hydrants and water supplies. Cap. 68] Freetown Fire Prevention Measures therein, whether causing damage or not, as are reasonably required for the purposes aforesaid. (3) Any act which may be done by a Police Officer when duly authorised under sub-section (2) hereof, may also be done by any fireman acting under the direct orders of an officer of the Fire Brigade. (4) No action for damages in respect of anything done under the provisions of sub-sections (2) and (3) shall be maintained against the Fire Authority or any Police Officer or any officer of the Fire Brigade or any fireman. (5) Any person who wilfully obstructs or hinders any Police Officer or any officer of the Fire Brigade or any fireman in the execution of the powers conferred upon him by this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable upon summary conviction to a fine not exceeding ten pounds or imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months. 8. At any fire, the senior officer of the Fire Brigade present shall have full charge and control of all operations for the extinction of the fire including the fixing of the position of fire engine and apparatus, the attaching of hose to any water supply, and the selection of the parts of the building on fire or of adjoining buildings against which water is to be directed, and may cause the water to be shut off from the mains and pipes in any area in order to give a greater supply and pressure of water for extinguishing the fire and the Fire Authority shall not be liable to any claim by reason of the interruption of the supply of water occasioned only by compliance with such a requirement. 9. The Fire Authority may erect or fix and maintain fire alarms, in such positions in any street or public place in the City as they think fit, after consultation with the Commissioner of Police. 10. Any person who by any means gives an alarm of fire knowing it to be false, shall be guilty of an offence, and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds and in default of payment to imprisonment for a _term not exceeding six months, and for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months. 11. (1) The Fire Authority shall provide and maintain, or cause to be provided and maintained such fire hydrants and other water installations as are necessary for securing the best Freetown Fire Prevention Measures [Cap. 68 practical use of the available water supply in case of fire, and the situation of every such hydrant shall be plainly indicated by a notice or distinguishing mark which may be placed on any wall or fence adjoining a street or public place. (2) Any person who uses a fire hydrant or other water installation as mentioned in sub-section (1) for any purpose not authorised by the Fire Authority shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty-five pounds or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months. (3) The Fire Authority may use for the purpose of extinguishing fires any convenient or suitable supply of water. 12. The Chief Fire Officer may, on the receipt of information Power to search for which he believes to be true, enter at any time any dwelling and order house, store house, or premises of any nature, with a view to :e~wval o£ ascertaining if inflammable matter is being stored to the danger :at!~~:. e of life and property and shall be empowered to order the immediate removal of such inflammable matter. Any person refusing to obey or comply with such instructions shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding ten pounds or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months. 13. (1) The Fire Authority shall secure efficient arrange- AFireh . ut onty to ments- make (a) for obtaining by inspection or otherwise information ;~~aon!t:%~~!s required for fire-fighting purposes with respect to the charac- information ter of buildings and other property in the area of the Fire l';h~!:~ and Authority, the available water supplies and the means of for fire . access thereto, the limited use or prohibition of the uRe of ~~e~;~~~~· Dutch stoves in old buildings except on concrete pavements outside such buildings or in regular kitchens and with respect to other material local circumstances; (b) for ensuring that reasonable steps are taken to prevent or mitigate damage to property resulting from measures taken in dealing with fires in the area of the Fire Authority; (c) for the giving, when requested, of advice in respect of buildings and other property in the area of the Fire Authority as to fire prevention, restricting the spread of fire and means of escape in case of fire. (2) For the purposes of such arrangements, a member of the Fre~town Fire Brigade, if authorised in writing by the Fire Authority, may between the hours ofsix o'clock in the forenoon Fire Brigade may operate outside the City boundaries. Payment of expenses. Fire Authority may sue and be sued. Rules. Cap. 68] Freetown Fire Prevention Measures and six o'clock in the afternoon on any weekday not being a public holiday enter any dwelling house, store house, or premises of any nature, and any person obstructing or refusing admission to an authorised member of the said Fire Brigade to enter any premises shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding tel!- pounds or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months. 14. The Fire Authority may permit the Fire Brigade to be utilised for the purposes of extinguishing fires which occur outside the boundaries of the City. 15. All salaries, wages, pensions and gratuities payable, and all charges, expenses and liabilities incurred, under the provisions of this Ordinance or of any rules made in pursuance thereof, shall be paid out of the City Fund. 16. The Fire Authority may sue and be sued in the name of the Fire Authority. 17. For the better carrying into effect of this Ordinance, the Fire Authority may make rules to be approved by the Governor in Council- (a) to ensure the maximum efficiency of the Fire Brigade ; (b) to provide for the training and duties of the officers of the Fire Brigade and the firemen; (c) to provide the conditions of service of officers of the Fire Brigade and firemen including rates of pay and other emoluments, payment for overtime, awards for gallantry, compensation, pensions, gratuities, medical examination, superannuation and the provision of uniform and equipment; and (d) to provide for the discipline of the Fire Brigade, offences against discipline, the trial of such offences and the punishments therefor which may include- (i) confinement to station when off duty for a period not exceeding two days; (ii) stoppage of pay for a period not exceeding fourteen days; (iii) dismissal ; (iv) reduction in rank; (v) loss of increment; and (vi) any lesser punishment.