There is created the Georgia Fire Academy, the purposes of which shall be, through training and research:

(1) To reduce the costs in suffering and property loss resulting from fire;

(2) To provide professional training to paid, volunteer, and other publicly or privately employed firemen at a minimal cost to them and their employers;

(3) To assist the state and its counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions and the officers thereof in the investigation and determination of the causes of fires;

(4) To develop new methods of fire prevention and fire fighting;

(5) To provide facilities for testing fire-fighting and prevention equipment; and

(6) To assist the state and its counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions in the training and operations of fire department-related emergency medical services and rescue services.