Each municipality not having an organized fire department, at its annual meeting, shall elect at least one fire ward, who shall be a fire inspector. Such fire inspectors shall perform the duties set forth in sections 2392 to 2395. If more than one fire ward is elected by any municipality, one of said fire wards shall be designated as fire inspector of said municipality, and the other fire wards shall, under the direction of the fire inspector, assist in performing the duties imposed upon said fire inspector by said sections. In towns and cities having an organized fire department, the chief of such fire department shall perform the duties of fire inspector. Fire inspectors so elected or designated shall receive reasonable compensation for their services, to be determined by the municipality.   [PL 1973, c. 632, §1 (RPR).]

When for any reason the office of fire ward is vacant or the fire ward is incapacitated and there is no organized fire department, the municipal officers may appoint a fire ward to serve until the next ensuing election of officers.   [PL 1973, c. 632, §1 (RPR).]