Any official of the Municipal Fire Department shall have the power during the time of a fire to cause the removal of any private or public property whenever it shall become necessary to do so for the preservation of such property from fire, to prevent the spreading of fire or to protect adjoining property. Said officials may direct the hook and ladder officials to remove any building, structure or fence for the purpose of checking the progress of any fire, and the official in charge of the firefighting effort shall have the power to blow up, or cause to be blown up, with powder or otherwise, any building or erection during the progress of a fire for the purpose of extinguishing or checking the same.