Any official of the City 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. The said officials may direct the city firefighters to remove any building, structure, or fence for the purpose of checking the progress of any fire, and the official in charge of the fire fighting 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.
('72 Code, § 3-111)