Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Country Fire Authority Act 1958 - SECT 44A

Power to Chief Officer to close roads

44A. Power to Chief Officer to close roads





(1) Where any fire is burning in any urban or rural district (whether that
fire is lighted under and in accordance with this Division or is part of
burning off operations carried out under and in accordance with this Act or
any direction or permit given or issued thereunder or under and in accordance
with the Forests Act 1958 or any direction or authority given thereunder) the
Chief Officer for the purpose of protecting life or property or if in his
opinion smoke from that fire impairs visibility on any road to such an extent
that the safety of any persons using that road is endangered may cause the
road or any part thereof in the vicinity of the fire to be closed to traffic
during the continuance of the fire and may during the continuance of the fire
direct traffic on any part of that road which is not so closed.

(2) The power conferred on the Chief Officer by subsection (1) shall be
exercisable by the Chief Officer or by any officer in charge of a brigade or
group of brigades or by any forest officer who is present at the fire.





(3) This section shall be read and construed as in aid of and not in
derogation from the powers and authorities conferred on the Chief Officer by
or under this or any other Act.