Forest-fire wardens shall prevent and extinguish forest fires in the territory over which they have jurisdiction and shall have control and direction of all persons and apparatus while engaged in extinguishing forest fires.

In case of fire threatening any forest or woodland, the wardens having authority in that locality shall attend immediately and use all necessary means to confine and extinguish the fire. Forest-fire wardens or forest-fire investigators may cut trees or other vegetation, destroy fences, plow land, or set backfires to check any fire.