Section 12. Whoever, during the burning of a building or other property, wilfully and maliciously cuts or removes a bell rope or a wire or conduit connected with a fire alarm signal system or injures or disables any fire alarm signal box or any part of such system in the vicinity of such building or property, or otherwise prevents an alarm being given, or whoever cuts, injures or destroys an engine, hose or other fire apparatus, in said vicinity, or otherwise wilfully and maliciously prevents or obstructs the extinction of a fire shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than seven years or in jail for not more than two and one half years or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars.