190Interfering with fire appliance, hydrant, alarm etc

190 Interfering with fire appliance, hydrant, alarm etc (1) A person commits an offence if the person does something to, or near, a fire appliance or a fire appliance container that— (a) prevents or hinders the effective use of the appliance or container; or (b) damages the appliance or container. (2) A person commits an offence if the person— (a) covers, encloses or conceals a fire hydrant; or (b) obliterates or removes a mark, sign or letter indicating the position of, or distinguishing, a fire hydrant. (3) A person commits an offence if the person does anything to a fire alarm that prevents or hinders the effective use of the fire alarm. (4) This section does not apply if the person has the permission of a member of the fire and rescue service, a member of the rural fire service or a police officer to do the thing. (5) Subsection (3) also does not apply if the person does the thing— (a) to give an alarm of fire; or (b) to test or do maintenance work on the fire alarm. (6) An offence against subsection (1), (2) or (3) is a strict liability offence. fire appliance container means a container used for housing or storing fire appliances.