{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/27-20.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/27-20.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/27-20.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/27-20.html"}],"law_id":356303,"edition_id":2,"section_id":356303,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-20","catch_line":"Destruction of property to prevent spread of fire","history":"Code 1919, \u00a7 3133; 1970, c. 187; 2001, c. 142; 2008, c. 410; 2015, cc. 502, 503.","full_text":"The chief, or other officer commanding in his absence, may direct the pulling down or destroying of any fence, house, or other thing which he may judge necessary to be pulled down or destroyed to prevent the further spreading of a fire, and for this purpose may require such assistance from all present as he shall judge necessary.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1326742,"text":"The chief, or other officer commanding in his absence, may direct the pulling down or destroying of any fence, house, or other thing which he may judge necessary to be pulled down or destroyed to prevent the further spreading of a fire, and for this purpose may require such assistance from all present as he shall judge necessary.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":50977,"edition_id":2,"name":"Provisions Applicable to Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":50976,"metadata":{"child_laws":39,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:35:42","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:39","permalink":{"id":1417021,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50977,"identifier":"1","token":"27\/2\/1","url":"\/27\/2\/1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50976,"edition_id":2,"name":"Fire\/EMS Departments and Fire\/EMS Companies","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":50974,"metadata":{"child_laws":40,"child_structures":2},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:35:42","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:39","permalink":{"id":1417019,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50976,"identifier":"2","token":"27\/2","url":"\/27\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50974,"edition_id":2,"name":"Fire Protection","identifier":"27","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":68,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":146,"child_structures":19},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:35:42","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:38","permalink":{"id":1416967,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50974,"identifier":"27","token":"27","url":"\/27\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":356283,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-10","catch_line":"Dissolution of fire company","url":"\/27-10\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-10","metadata":false},{"id":356287,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-11","catch_line":"Duty of members on alarm of fire or call of a medical emergency","url":"\/27-11\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-11","metadata":false},{"id":356288,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-12","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-12\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-12","metadata":false},{"id":356289,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-13","catch_line":"Appointment of chief and other officers","url":"\/27-13\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-13","metadata":false},{"id":356290,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-14","catch_line":"Ordinances as to fire departments and fire companies","url":"\/27-14\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-14","metadata":false},{"id":356295,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-15","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-15\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-15","metadata":false},{"id":356291,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-15.1","catch_line":"Authority of chief or other officer in charge when answering alarm; penalty for refusal to obey orders","url":"\/27-15.1\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-15.1","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":356292,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-15.1:1","catch_line":"Penalty for refusing or neglecting to obey order of chief or other officer in command","url":"\/27-15.1_1\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-15.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":356293,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-15.2","catch_line":"Purchase, maintenance, etc., of equipment; donated equipment","url":"\/27-15.2\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-15.2","metadata":false},{"id":356294,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-15.3","catch_line":"Purchase of service-issued boots or helmet by certain firefighters","url":"\/27-15.3\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-15.3","metadata":false},{"id":356296,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-16","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-16\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-16","metadata":false},{"id":356298,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-17","catch_line":"Entry of buildings on fire and premises adjoining","url":"\/27-17\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-17","metadata":false},{"id":356297,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-17.1","catch_line":"Remaining on premises after fire extinguished","url":"\/27-17.1\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-17.1","metadata":false},{"id":356299,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-18","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-18\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-18","metadata":false},{"id":356300,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-19","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-19\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-19","metadata":false},{"id":356303,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-20","catch_line":"Destruction of property to prevent spread of fire","url":"\/27-20\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-20","metadata":false},{"id":356304,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-21","catch_line":"Owner may recover amount of actual damage","url":"\/27-21\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-21","metadata":false},{"id":356305,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-22","catch_line":"But not for property which would have been destroyed by the fire","url":"\/27-22\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-22","metadata":false},{"id":356317,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-23","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-23\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23","metadata":false},{"id":356306,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-23.1","catch_line":"Establishment of fire zones or districts; tax levies","url":"\/27-23.1\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.1","metadata":false},{"id":356307,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-23.10","catch_line":"Ordinances to effectuate purposes of \u00a7 27-23.9","url":"\/27-23.10\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.10","metadata":false},{"id":356308,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-23.11","catch_line":"Firefighter electric vehicles fire training","url":"\/27-23.11\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.11","metadata":false},{"id":356309,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-23.2","catch_line":"Advances by city or county to fire zone or district","url":"\/27-23.2\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.2","metadata":false},{"id":356310,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-23.3","catch_line":"Reimbursement for advances","url":"\/27-23.3\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.3","metadata":false},{"id":356311,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-23.4","catch_line":"Validation of prior advances","url":"\/27-23.4\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.4","metadata":false},{"id":356312,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-23.5","catch_line":"Exclusion of certain areas from fire zones or districts and exemption of such areas from certain levies","url":"\/27-23.5\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.5","metadata":false},{"id":356313,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-23.6","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-23.6\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.6","metadata":false},{"id":356314,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-23.7","catch_line":"Special levy for fire protection in certain counties","url":"\/27-23.7\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.7","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":356315,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-23.8","catch_line":"Trial board for members of fire departments in certain counties","url":"\/27-23.8\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.8","metadata":false},{"id":356316,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-23.9","catch_line":"Supervision and control of joint services of fire companies or departments","url":"\/27-23.9\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.9","metadata":false},{"id":356377,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-6","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-6\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-6","metadata":false},{"id":356373,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-6.01","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/27-6.01\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-6.01","metadata":false},{"id":356374,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-6.02","catch_line":"Provision of firefighting services","url":"\/27-6.02\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-6.02","metadata":false},{"id":356375,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-6.1","catch_line":"Establishment of fire department; chief, officers, and employees","url":"\/27-6.1\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-6.1","metadata":false},{"id":356376,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-6.2","catch_line":"Applicant preemployment information with fire departments","url":"\/27-6.2\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-6.2","metadata":false},{"id":356388,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-7","catch_line":"Bylaws of fire department; compensation of officers and employees; information on check stubs, time cards, etc","url":"\/27-7\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-7","metadata":false},{"id":356402,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-8","catch_line":"Who may form a fire company; limit on number of persons in combined companies","url":"\/27-8\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-8","metadata":false},{"id":356401,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-8.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-8.1\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-8.1","metadata":false},{"id":356411,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-9","catch_line":"Organization of fire company","url":"\/27-9\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":356300,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-19","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-19\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-19","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":356304,"structure_id":50977,"section_number":"27-21","catch_line":"Owner may recover amount of actual damage","url":"\/27-21\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-21","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/27-20\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1970, chapter 187; in 2001, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?011+ful+CHAP0142\">142<\/a>; in 2008, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?081+ful+CHAP0410\">410<\/a>; in 2015, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?151+ful+CHAP0502\">502<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?151+ful+CHAP0503\">503<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":356304,"section_number":"27-21","catch_line":"Owner may recover amount of actual damage","order_by":null,"url":"\/27-21\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1417083,"object_type":"law","relational_id":356303,"identifier":"27-20","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-20","url":"\/27-20\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/27-20\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-20","dublin_core":{"Title":"Destruction of property to prevent spread of fire","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 27-20","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>The chief, or other officer commanding in his absence, may direct the pulling down or destroying of any fence, house, or other thing which he may <span class=\"dictionary\">judge<\/span> necessary to be pulled down or destroyed to prevent the further spreading of a fire, and for this purpose may require such assistance from all present as he shall <span class=\"dictionary\">judge<\/span> necessary.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY TO PREVENT SPREAD OF FIRE (\u00a7 27-20)\n\nThe chief, or other officer commanding in his absence, may direct the pulling\ndown or destroying of any fence, house, or other thing which he may judge\nnecessary to be pulled down or destroyed to prevent the further spreading of a\nfire, and for this purpose may require such assistance from all present as he\nshall judge necessary.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1919, \u00a7 3133; 1970, c. 187; 2001, c. 142; 2008, c. 410; 2015, cc.\n502, 503.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}