Article 18 Powers of fire and rescue officers in an emergency, etc.

(1)

A fire and rescue officer being on duty, may do anything he reasonably believes to be necessary—

(a)

if he reasonably believes a fire to have broken out or to be about to break out, for the purpose of extinguishing or preventing the fire or protecting life or property;

(b)

if he reasonably believes a road traffic accident to have occurred, for the purpose of rescuing persons or protecting them from serious harm;

(c)

if he reasonably believes an emergency of another kind to have occurred, for the purpose of carrying out any function conferred on the Board in relation to the emergency; and

(d)

for the purpose of preventing or limiting damage to property resulting from action taken as mentioned in sub-paragraph (a), (b) or (c).

(2)

In particular, a fire and rescue officer may under paragraph (1)—

(a)

enter premises, by force if necessary, without the consent of the owner or occupier of the premises;

(b)

move or break into a vehicle without the consent of its owner;

(c)

close a road;

(d)

stop and regulate traffic; and

(e)

restrict the access of persons to premises.