Garner Fire-Rescue Awarded International Accreditation Status for Second Consecutive Time
The Garner Fire-Rescue Department has been awarded accreditation status for the second consecutive time by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), a program of the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE).
The department received its accreditation during a CPSE hearing on Aug. 18 at the organization’s headquarters in Rosemont, Ill. Garner Fire-Rescue is among the fewer than 1 percent of fire departments worldwide to achieve international accreditation through CFAI and CPSE.
“Achieving accreditation demonstrates our commitment to providing the highest quality of service to our community,” Garner Fire-Rescue Chief Barrett Penny said. “More important, it reflects the dedication of our members and our willingness as an organization to continuously evaluate ourselves.”
Accreditation is a voluntary, comprehensive process that requires an agency to take an objective look at how it delivers services, evaluates performance, manages resources, identifies community risks and plans for the future.
Deputy Fire Chief Jason Hathcock, who serves as Garner Fire-Rescue’s accreditation manager, said the process has provided the department with a valuable tool for organizational growth and long-term planning.
“We have been able to use the Commission on Fire Accreditation International’s process as a proactive mechanism to plan for the future of this agency and identify areas where we can improve the quality of the services we provide,” Hathcock said.
The accreditation process also strengthens the connection between the Fire-Rescue Department and the community it serves by incorporating community risk, stakeholder input, performance data and organizational planning into the agency’s decision-making process.
Accreditation is awarded for a five-year cycle. Garner Fire-Rescue first received international accreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International in July 2021.
About CFAI and CPSE
The Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), a program of the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE), is dedicated to helping fire and emergency service organizations achieve excellence through self-assessment and accreditation. The CFAI accreditation model provides agencies with a comprehensive framework for evaluating their performance, developing strategies for improvement and demonstrating a commitment to continuous quality improvement and enhanced service delivery.
via Town of Garner
