A district fire mutual aid system shall coordinate the services of all fire departments belonging to it so as to provide better and more efficient cooperation in the protection of life and property against fire and in the case of other accidental or natural emergency within the area which it comprises. It may establish an overall plan or plans for that coordination. Within the limits of available funds, it may acquire and operate property and equipment, including a dispatch center and a communications service, and may extend the advantages of group purchasing and benefits to departments in the system. It may provide and operate training programs for firemen and others, or enter into agreements with other agencies or institutions to provide and operate those programs. It shall cooperate with other state agencies and with the civil defense authorities, state and local. The state fire marshal may give advice, recommendations and assistance to the system on request. It may accept any and all donations, gifts, and grants of money, property, equipment, supplies, materials and services from the federal or any state or local government, or any agency thereof and from any person, firm, or corporation, for any of its purposes and functions under this subchapter, and may receive and utilize the same subject to the terms, conditions and regulations governing the donations, gifts and grants. (1967, No. 255 (Adj. Sess.), § 8, eff. Feb. 20, 1968.)