Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone

Tag Archives: Bedford Fire Department

Texas Supreme Court Upholds Police Entry Into Premises At Fire Department’s Request

When a firefighter, in the line of duty, asks law enforcement for a safety check after seeing drug paraphernalia, guns, and flammable liquids in an apartment, is the officer's entry into the apartment reasonable under the Fourth Amendment? Today the Texas Supreme Court said yes.

Texas Court of Appeals Upholds Police Seizure of Evidence Found By Firefighters

Last week the Texas Court of Appeals ruled that when firefighters discover evidence of a crime at a fire scene and report it to the police, the police may lawfully seize the evidence without violating the Fourth Amendment. The case involved a fire in Bedford, Texas on August 30, 2017.

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.

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