West Metro Fire Rescue has received Accredited Agency Status with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), an honor held by just 301 fire service agencies around the world. West Metro has held accredited agency status since 2021. This reaccreditation marks the third time that the Commission has evaluated West Metro, focusing on the level of service provided to residents and businesses, and the district's commitment to the community.
Accredited agencies are often described as being community-focused, data-driven, outcome-focused, strategic-minded, well organized, properly equipped, and properly staffed and trained. In addition to the accreditation, West Metro is also ISO Class 1 certified- one of just 114 agencies to achieve both accreditation and the top ISO rating.
"The accreditation process is detailed and exhaustive, and it doesn't allow us to rest on our past successes," said West Metro Fire Chief Don Lombardi. "It demands that we continue to improve our response times and quality of service. Being reaccredited means our focus is where it should be- on how well we live up to our commitment to protect lives and property."
The CFAI process is voluntary and provides an agency with an improvement model to assess their service delivery and internal performance. An on-site visit from a peer team, with members from other fire agencies, evaluates a detailed self-assessment. The assessment encompasses eleven major categories, including response times, training, resource deployment and public education. Agencies must also compile a strategic plan and conduct a comprehensive community risk/ hazard assessment.