(a) The chief of a volunteer or paid fire department or, if there is no fire department, the first selectman of a town, shall within five days of the occurrence of a fire within his jurisdiction which causes serious injury to any person or loss or damage to property which exceeds $200.00, forward a report of the fire to the state fire marshal on forms to be furnished by him. If the reporting officer has reason to believe that a fire is of suspicious origin, he shall report that fact to the state fire marshal immediately. No fee shall be paid or allowed any officer for rendering the report required by this subsection.

(b) An officer referred to in subsection (a) of this section who wilfully neglects to comply with any of the requirements of this subchapter shall be fined not more than $100.00. (Amended 1973, No. 137 (Adj. Sess.), § 4.)