Fire Brigades Act, 1940

Obligations and powers of sanitary authorities.

2.—(1) Every sanitary authority shall make reasonable provision for the prompt and efficient extinguishing of fires occurring in buildings and other places of all kinds in their sanitary district and for the protection and rescue of persons and property from injury by any such fire.

(2) A sanitary authority may, for the purpose of making such reasonable provision as is mentioned in the foregoing sub-section of this section, establish and maintain a fire brigade and, for the purposes of such fire brigade, do all or any of the following things, that is to say:—

(a) provide premises for the housing of such fire brigade;

(b) make such provision in respect of the public water supply in such sanitary district as will ensure that a sufficient supply of water is available for and accessible to such fire brigade;

(c) establish and maintain in the public streets and in other places fire alarms by means of which such fire brigade can be summoned.

(3) A sanitary authority may, in lieu of or in addition to establishing and maintaining a fire brigade under the next preceding sub-section of this section, do with the sanction of the Minister either or both of the following things, that is to say:—

(a) make an agreement with any fire brigade authority whereby the fire brigade of such fire brigade authority will be available and will give their services in relation to fires occurring in the sanitary district, or any particular portion of the sanitary district, of such sanitary authority as fully as if such sanitary district, or such portion thereof, were part of the sanitary district of such fire brigade authority;

(b) make an agreement with any person (other than a fire brigade authority) who maintains a fire brigade whereby such fire brigade will be available and will give their services in relation to fires occurring in the sanitary district, or any particular portion of the sanitary district, of such sanitary authority.

(4) A sanitary authority shall, in the performance of the obligations imposed and the exercise of the powers conferred on them by this section, have regard (in addition to all other relevant considerations) to the probable frequency and extent of fires in their sanitary district, the character of such district, the value of the property likely to be damaged by such fires, and the financial resources of such sanitary authority.