If any railroad company owning or operating any railroad within this State suffers to remain on any part of the land owned or controlled by it for railroad purposes within this State any brush or other combustible matter, and if such brush or other combustible matter, from any cause whatsoever, is set on fire, and by reason thereof, the property, real or personal, of any person is destroyed or impaired, such railroad company is liable to pay the damages resulting therefrom, to be recovered in the same manner as provided in § 6501 of this title in the case of individuals liable for damages resulting from fire.