The Savannah Fire Department has received accredited agency status for the third time by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) for meeting criteria established through the CFAI’s voluntary self-assessment and accreditation model for fire and emergency service agencies.

Members of Savannah Fire Department were recognized at the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) Summer Hearing in Chicago, Illinois, in August. SFD is among the top 1% of fire departments nationwide to obtain Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) accreditation as well as Insurance Service Office (ISO) 1 classification. Additionally, SFD is one of four agencies in Georgia to obtain both the classification and the accreditation.

“This special recognition demonstrates the commitment of our agency to provide the highest quality of service to our community,” said Savannah Fire Chief Derik Minard. “We have also 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 locate areas where we can improve on the quality of services we provide, ensuring our commitment to setting the standard for fire service excellence.”

The Savannah Fire Department’s accreditation process represented a significant department-wide commitment to continuous improvement, accountability, and excellence in service delivery. Over the course of the process, department leadership and personnel worked collaboratively to evaluate operations, identify opportunities for improvement, establish measurable performance standards, and align the organization with national best practices. The process involved participation from fire administration, division and battalion leadership, company officers, firefighters, and key city partners and community members.

Through this collaborative effort, the Savannah Fire Department demonstrated its commitment to providing an effective, efficient, and continuously improving level of service to the Savannah community. Accreditation serves not only as recognition of the department’s accomplishments, but also a framework for maintaining accountability and pursuing ongoing organizational improvement.