Section 228 in The Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats And Industrial Townships Act, 1965
228. Powers for suppression of fires.
(1)It shall be the duty of all police officers and all municipal officers and servants to aid the fire-brigade in the execution of its duties.(2)On the occasion of a fire within the limits of a municipal area, any Magistrate, the President, the Chief Officer [the Municipal Fire Officer] [These words were inserted by Maharashtra 26 of 1990, Section 5(a).] or any member of a fire-brigade maintained by the Council or by the State Government directing the operations of the brigade, and if directed so to do by any of the persons aforesaid, any police officer above the rank of a constable, may-(a)remove or order removal of any person who by his presence interferes with or impedes the operations for extinguishing the fire or for saving life or property;(b)close any street or passage in or near which any fire is burning;(c)for the purpose of extinguishing the fire, 'break into or through or pull down or cause to be broken into or through or pulled down, or use for the passage of hoses or other appliances, any premises;(d)cause mains and pipes to be shut off so as to give greater pressure of water in or near the place where the fire has occurred;(e)call on the persons in charge of any fire-engine to render such assistance as may be possible; and(f)generally, take such measures as may appear necessary for the preservation of life or property.(2A)[ A report of every fire which occurs in the municipal area shall be submitted by the Municipal Fire Officer or any member of the fire-brigade not later than the day following the fire to the Chief Officer, who shall make such further inquiry, if any, as he may deem necessary; and shall furnish a monthly return of all fires which occur in the municipal area, to the Standing Committee, the District Magistrate and the Fire Advisor to the Government of Maharashtra.] [Sub-section (2A) was inserted by Maharashtra 26 of 1990, Section 5(b).](3)When any Government building is endangered by such fire, any Government Officer for the time being in charge of the building may exercise the powers conferred by sub-section (2).(4)No compensation shall be payable by any person for any act done by him in good faith under sub-section (1) or (2).
