Whenever the Board of Commissioners of the town is informed that any building or other structure within the town is especially dangerous in case of fire, by reason of the bad condition of walls, defective construction, decay or other causes, or is so situated so as to endanger the lives of persons passing by or residing in the vicinity thereof, it shall forthwith require the Mayor to make a survey of the building, or structure, and report to it his or her opinion of the same.
(1973 Code, § I-I-1)