45.1-161.266 - Duties in case of fire.
§ 45.1-161.266. Duties in case of fire.
A. Should a fire occur, the person discovering it and any person in thevicinity of the fire shall make a prompt effort to extinguish it. When a firethat may endanger persons at the mine cannot be extinguished immediately, allpersons shall be withdrawn promptly from the area of the fire.
B. In case of any unplanned fire at or about a mine not extinguished withinthirty minutes of discovery, the operator or agent shall report by thequickest available means to the Chief, giving all information known to himregarding the fire. The Chief shall take prompt action, based on theinformation, to go in person or dispatch qualified subordinates to the sceneof the fire for consultation, and assist in the extinguishing of the fire andthe protection of exposed persons. In the event of a difference of opinion asto measures required, the decision of the Chief or his designated subordinateshall be final, but must be given to the operator in writing to have theforce of an order.
(Code 1950, § 45-14.1; 1954, c. 191; 1966, c. 594, § 45.1-89; 1974, c. 323;1978, c. 118; 1984, c. 590; 1985, c. 500; 1994, c. 28; 1999, c. 256.)