§ 225-a. Fire training and mutual aid programs. 1. In order to develop and maintain programs for fire training, fire service-related activities and mutual aid in cases of fire and other emergencies in which the services of firefighters would be used and to cooperate with the office of fire prevention and control in furthering such programs, the board of supervisors of any county may create a county fire advisory board and may establish the office of county fire coordinator.

2. A county fire advisory board shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-one members, each of whom shall be appointed by the board of supervisors for a term of not to exceed one year, two years or three years. Such terms of office need not be the same for all members. It shall be the duty of such board to cooperate with the office of fire prevention and control in relation to such programs for fire training, fire service-related activities and mutual aid; to act as an advisory body to the board of supervisors and to the county fire coordinator, if any, in connection with the county participation in such programs for fire training, fire service-related activities and mutual aid and in connection with the county establishment and maintenance of a county fire training school and mutual aid programs in cases of fire and other emergencies in which the services of firefighters would be used; to perform such other duties as the board of supervisors may prescribe in relation to fire training, fire service-related activities and mutual aid in cases of fire and other emergencies in which the services of firefighters would be used. The members of such board shall be county officers, and shall serve without compensation.

3. If the office of county fire coordinator is created in any county, the board of supervisors thereof shall appoint a county fire coordinator. It shall be his or her duty to administer the county programs for fire training and mutual aid in cases of fire and other emergencies in which the services of firefighters would be used; to act as a liaison officer between the board of supervisors and the county fire advisory board and the fire fighting forces in the county and the officers and governing boards or bodies thereof; and to perform such other duties as the board of supervisors shall prescribe. The county fire coordinator shall be a county officer and the amount of his or her compensation, if any, shall be fixed by the board of supervisors.

4. A member of the board of supervisors, the county fire coordinator, or a deputy county fire coordinator appointed pursuant to the provisions of section four hundred one of this chapter, may be appointed as a member of the county fire advisory board, but shall receive no additional compensation for services performed as a member of such advisory board.

5. Where, pursuant to section one hundred eighty-four of the town law, a town has contracted with an incorporated fire company to furnish fire protection within a fire protection district, the respective county may acquire by gift or purchase suitable apparatus and appliances for use in such district and in conjunction with the county mutual aid program and may contract with said incorporated fire company for operation, maintenance, and repair of same and for the furnishing of fire protection in such district.