Vermont § 2673 - Powers and duties during hazardous chemical or substance incident, fires; threat of fires or explosions

§ 2673. Powers and duties during hazardous chemical or substance incident, fires; threat of fires or explosions

• (a) The chief engineer, or in the chief’s absence, the assistant highest in rank present
  at a hazardous chemical or substance incident or fire, shall have charge of the fire
  apparatus and of the companies and persons attending the hazardous chemical or substance
  incident or fire for the purpose of containing, controlling, or extinguishing the
  same and may remove goods and effects out of a building or place endangered by the
  hazardous chemical or substance incident or fire. The chief engineer may cause to
  be pulled down or removed such buildings as the chief deems necessary to prevent the
  spread of hazardous material or fire and for such purposes may require the assistance
  of inhabitants of the district. During the hazardous chemical or substance incident
  or fire, the chief engineer may suppress tumults or disorders and direct the labor
  of inhabitants present in such fire district. (b) Where an emergency situation exists in a municipality and there is no fire, but there
  is an imminent threat of a hazardous chemical or substance incident, fire, or explosion,
  the ranking member of the fire company responding will be in charge as long as the
  imminent threat continues. Where there is a threat of bombing, the fire department
  shall surrender responsibility to the police department having jurisdiction in the
  area. (c) The ranking member of a fire department shall have authority to direct, control, and
  supervise traffic at the scene of a fire or other emergency to which a fire department
  has responded. (d) [Repealed.] (Amended 1961, No. 52, § 1; 1975, No. 222 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 7, 1976; 1991, No. 29, § 1; 1993, No. 194 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. June 14, 1994; 2009, No. 135 (Adj. Sess.), § 26(8)(A).)