Clause 132

Where the Chief Fire Officer is satisfied that any grass, hedge, tree or other vegetation whether growing or not is in an inflammable state or likely to be dangerous to life or property or to cause an obstruction or in any way physically or visually to impede traffic, the Chief Fire Officer may by notice in writing require the owner or occupier of the land on which the same is growing or lying to remove the same within a time specified in the notice.

If the notice is not complied with, the Chief Fire Officer at any time after the expiration of the time so specified may cause the work to be done, and the cost and expenses of so doing shall be payable by the owner or occupier in default and shall be recoverable in the manner provided under section 152 of this Ordinance:Provided that where the person in default is an owner who is not known or cannot be found in Singapore, the provisions of section 155 of this Ordinance shall apply to any sum payable by such owner under this subsection.

If any fire shall occur on any land in respect of which a notice under this section has been given and before the notice has been fully complied with, the cost and expenses of extinguishing the fire shall be payable by the owner or occupier in default and shall be recoverable in the manner provided under section 152 of this Ordinance:Provided that where the person in default is an owner who is not known or cannot be found in Singapore, the provisions of section 155 of this Ordinance shall apply to any sum payable by such owner under this subsection.A certificate as to the amount of such cost and expenses under the hand of the Chief Fire Officer shall be conclusive evidence that such amount has been so incurred.

Any person on whom a notice under this section has been served shall, if he is not the owner or occupier of the land in respect of which such notice has been served, within seven days from the date thereof inform the Chief Fire Officer in writing that he is not such owner or occupier.

Any person who makes default in complying with the provisions of subsection (4) of this section shall, unless he shows cause to the satisfaction of the Court for such default, be deemed, for the purpose of recovering the cost and expenses of executing any work in pursuance of the notice served on him, to be the owner or occupier, as the case may be, of the land in respect of which such notice has been served.

Where in any case as is referred to in subsection (5) of this section, the Court is satisfied that the person in default has shown sufficient cause for his default, the costs and expenses of executing any work in pursuance of the notice served on such person shall, notwithstanding that such notice has not been served on the owner of the land, be payable by such owner and shall be recoverable in the manner provided under section 152 of this Ordinance:Provided that where such owner is not known or cannot be found in Singapore, the provisions of section 155 of this Ordinance shall apply to any sum payable by such owner under this subsection.

No compensation shall be payable by the Government in respect of the execution of any work done in pursuance of a notice issued under this section.