44-208 - Securing site of structural failure, fire, explosion, or industrial or transportation accident. - Virginia Statutes

§ 44-208. Securing site of structural failure, fire, explosion, or industrialor transportation accident.

The official in charge of the investigation of any structural failure, fire,explosion, or industrial or transportation accident which results in the lossof human life, except when caused by a natural disaster or war, may securefor no more than twelve hours so much of the site where it occurred as, inhis opinion, may be necessary to gather evidence regarding the cause of theoccurrence. No owner or lessee of the site may be denied entrance except toprevent the destruction of evidence.

In cases of fire from any cause, the chief or other authorized officer of anyfire department or fire company in command at the fire shall have the rightsand authority granted to him and his subordinates upon his order or directionby § 27-17.1. Nothing in this section shall limit or otherwise affect theauthority of, or be construed to deny access to such site by, any personcharged by law with the responsibility of investigating any such accident.

(1982, c. 213.)