firefighters in St. George's have been amended.

The St. George's Fire Brigade Amendment Ordinance 1993 has given the East End fire service permission to break into premises where they believe there is a blaze.

And under the new law they will be able to use any water supply to douse flames without having to ask the permission of the owner.

The changes will be particularly useful when the fire brigade encounters fires in properties when the owner is away.

Other additions include allowance for a senior fire officer to close roads to traffic and designate areas barring unauthorised persons.

St. George's Chief Fire Officer Mr. Gary Renaud said the amendment would bring the Old Town into line with the rest of the Island.

The St. George's Fire Service is governed by the Municipalities Act of 1923 but changes have been made over the last two decades which only affected parts of the Island covered by Hamilton and Port Royal stations.

The Ordinance brings St. George's into line. It states: "Any officer who is on duty may enter and if necessary break into any premises or place in which a fire has or is reasonably believed to have broken out.'' An officer can also break into a building to rescue people or property and to prevent the spread of fire.

It goes on to say: "The senior fire officer present at any fire may take all reasonable measures to ensure that water supplies for fire-fighting purposes are adequate, and may use any convenient and suitable supply of water with or without the consent of the owner: "Provided that in any case where water is taken from any private storage tank, arrangements shall be made by the Chief Fire Officer as soon as practicable after the fire for the quantity of water taken to be replaced.

"The senior fire officer present at any time may close traffic (whether pedestrian, animal or vehicular) any street or may stop or regulate such traffic in any street whenever in the opinion of that officer it is necessary or desirable to do so for fire-fighting purpose.

"And designate a fire zone into which no unauthorised person shall be allowed to enter or remain except for fire-fighting purposes.'' Chief Officer Renaud said: "It has never affected anything we have done in the past. It is just bringing St. George's into line.

"It is covering the Corporation of St. George's in case I go dipping into somebody's water supply.'' The Ordinance was passed by the Corporation in June and advertised in The Royal Gazette .