§1971. Fire ground authority
A.(1) When a situation develops which requires the services of and is responded to by the members of a fire department subject to this Subpart as provided in R.S. 33:1961, of a volunteer fire department, or of any other fire department, then the ranking fire protection or fire prevention officer from that jurisdiction dispatched to the scene shall have the sole authority, command, and control of all fire safety personnel and of all persons within the boundaries as described in Subsection B of this Section. However, in the event that the situation is a forest fire, grass fire, or other wildland fire that would come within the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, office of forestry, then the ranking forestry officer on the scene shall establish a unified command of equal authority with the ranking fire department officer on the scene to abate the incident. This authority, command, and control shall not in any manner restrict the authority of law enforcement officers in the performance of their duties at any scene. This authority, command, and control shall be known as the fire ground authority.
(2) For purposes of this Section, "that jurisdiction" shall mean the fire department jurisdiction in which the situation requiring services is located.
B. The boundaries of such fire ground authority, command, and control shall extend to the perimeters of the zone of danger, which zone shall be determined by the ranking fire protection or fire prevention officer and the chief law enforcement officer at the scene from that jurisdiction.
C. Defiance or violation of this authority, command, and control shall constitute fire fighting interference and shall be punishable in conformance with R.S. 14:206.
Added by Acts 1979, No. 770, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1108, §1.
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