An Inspector of Buildings shall be entitled to a fee of $3 for making any such inquiry, the fee to be taxed against the person owning the property burned if the fire was caused by faulty construction or negligence of the owner; but in the case the Inspector shall conclude that the fire was due to lack of proper care on the part of the occupant of the house in which the fire occurred, the fee shall be paid by the occupant, except that, upon affidavit made that the occupant is in indigent circumstances and is unable to pay the fee, it shall be paid by the town within the limits of which the fire occurred, or if it shall have been without the limits of the town, the fee shall be paid by the Chief Insurance Commissioner out of funds available for this purpose. And when the fire originated form accidental causes the fee shall be paid by Chief Insurance Commissioner out of funds available for this purpose.
(1982 Code, Ch. 4, Art. II, § 4-3)