The officers and employees of the fire department of any city or town, with the engines and apparatus thereof, shall have the right of way while going to a fire or responding to an alarm through any street, lane, or alley in said city or town, subject to such rules and regulations as the city council or selectmen may prescribe. Whoever willfully and maliciously obstructs or retards the passage of an engine or other apparatus of a fire department, while so going to a fire, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.