When a fire is in progress, the chief of the department, or in his absence the officer in charge, in case of urgent public necessity, may order any telegraph, telephone, electric light wire or poles, in close proximity thereto, to be torn down or otherwise disposed of, and he may likewise order any building or buildings, in close proximity thereto, to be torn down or otherwise disposed of for the purpose of checking the conflagration, but neither the chief of the department nor any other officer or member of the fire department shall unnecessarily or recklessly destroy or injure any building or other property. (Prior code §7-6)