(1) Each railroad corporation owning or operating a railroad RAILROADS; REGULATIONS AND LIABILITIES 192.535 shall be liable to the owner of property injured or destroyed by fire communicated directly or indirectly by locomotives in use upon such railroad, or by the burning of grass, weeds or rubbish on the right of way by employees of such corporation; and such railroad corporation may procure insurance in its own behalf for its protection against such liability.
(2) To recover such damages, it shall only be necessary for the owner to prove the loss of or injury to the owner’s property, and that the fire originated in the manner hereinbefore stated.