Sec 41-2196. State fire marshal cease and desist order; enforcement procedures; violation; civil penalty

A. If the state fire marshal or his deputies have reasonable cause to believe that any person has committed or is committing a violation of article 3 of this chapter, any rule adopted pursuant to article 3 of this chapter or any order issued pursuant to article 3 of this chapter, which does not constitute an immediate and apparent hazard to life or property, the state fire marshal through the deputy director may issue and serve upon the person by certified mail a cease and desist order.

B. If the violation does not constitute an immediate hazard to life or property, the state fire marshal shall grant to the person whom he alleges to be in violation of any rule or order a reasonable period of time, which in no event shall be less than five days from the date of receipt of the notice, to comply with the order.

C. Upon the failure or refusal of a person to comply with a cease and desist order issued by the deputy director pursuant to subsection A, the deputy director may file an action in the superior court in the county in which the violation is alleged to have occurred to enjoin the person from engaging in further acts in violation of the cease and desist order. The court shall proceed as in other actions for preliminary injunction. Any person found to be in contempt of an injunctive order of the court shall be assessed a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars with each day of violation constituting a separate contempt.

D. If the state fire marshal or the fire marshal's deputies have reasonable cause to believe that any person has committed or is committing a violation of article 3 of this chapter, any rule adopted pursuant to article 3 of this chapter or any order issued pursuant to article 3 of this chapter which constitutes an immediate and apparent hazard to life or property, the state fire marshal through the deputy director may either:

1. Issue and serve by personal service a cease and desist order, which order may require immediate compliance. Upon failure of a person to comply with a cease and desist order issued pursuant to this paragraph, the deputy director shall file an action in the superior court in the county where the violation occurred to enjoin the person from engaging in further acts in violation of the cease and desist order.

2. File an action in the superior court in the county in which the violation is alleged to have occurred to enjoin a person from engaging in further acts in violation of the rule or order without issuing a cease and desist order.

The court shall proceed as in other actions for preliminary injunction. Any person found to be in contempt of an injunctive order of the court shall be assessed a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars with each day of violation constituting a separate contempt.