10.1-1139 - Who may be summoned to aid forest warden.
§ 10.1-1139. Who may be summoned to aid forest warden.
Any forest warden to whom written instructions have been issued by the StateForester authorizing him to employ persons to assist in suppressing forestfires, shall have the authority to summon as many able-bodied persons betweeneighteen and fifty years of age as may, in his discretion, be reasonablynecessary to assist in extinguishing any forest fire in any county or city ofthe Commonwealth which is organized for forest fire control under thedirection of the State Forester. Any person summoned by a forest warden tofight a forest fire shall be paid at the rate of pay provided in theDepartment of Forestry wage scale for fire fighting in effect in the countyor city, or part thereof, in which the fire is fought. Wardens shall notsummon for such service any person while engaged in maintaining therights-of-way of railroads for the safe passage of trains, nor any stationagent, operator or other person while engaged in duties necessary for thesafe operation of trains.
Any person summoned who fails or refuses to assist in fighting the fire,unless the failure is due to physical inability or other valid reason, shallbe guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.
(Code 1950, § 10-59; 1964, c. 79; 1973, c. 401; 1986, c. 188; 1988, c. 891.)