Columbia Disorderly persons at fires ordinance (§ 9-2)
Chapter 9: Fire Prevention and Protection · Article I. In General
In short: At or near a fire, you must promptly obey proper orders from the fire chief or assistants, and you may not act disorderly or resist, obstruct, hinder or abuse firefighters or fire officers; fire department officers can arrest violators without a warrant.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
If any person at or near a fire shall conduct himself in a disorderly manner or neglect or refuse to obey promptly any proper order of the fire chief or his assistants, or shall resist, obstruct, hinder or abuse any officer of the fire department, fire guard or any fireman, in the proper discharge of his duties, he may be arrested without warrant by any of the aforesaid officers. The power to make such arrest is hereby invested in the above-named officers.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 9-2
Text from Supplement 139 (September 3, 2026).
Last checked November 1, 2026. The city's official copy controls; this page is a reading copy, not legal advice.