It shall be the duty of the chief of the fire department to inspect or cause to be inspected, as often as may be necessary, all buildings, premises and thoroughfares in the town, except the interior of private dwellings, for the purpose of ascertaining and causing to be corrected, any conditions liable to cause fire, or any violations of the provisions of this code or other ordinance of the town affecting fire hazards. (1976 Code § 2.24.090)