(a) Whoever wilfully or maliciously sets fire to any woodlot, forest, wild land, property, material or vegetation being or growing upon the lands of another shall be fined not less than $200, nor more than $5,000, or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.
(b) This section shall not apply to the setting of a backfire under the direction of a state forest officer to extinguish a fire then burning, nor to persons setting fire under §§ 1042 and 1043 of this title.