The Legislature finds that the specialized and hazardous nature of fire fighting requires that fire fighters possess the requisite knowledge and demonstrate the ability to perform certain skills to carry out their responsibilities. The activities of fire fighters are important to the health, safety and welfare of the people of this state and are of such a nature to require education and training of a professional nature. It is the intent of the Legislature to require and provide minimum standards for training and to declare that the State Fire Academy is the principal facility for such purposes.