Fire Department's 'Accredited Agency' Status Renewed

The Temple Terrace Fire Department has achieved status.

The Commission on Fire Accreditation International approved the department’s status renewal Tuesday at the organization’s conference in Atlanta.

Fewer than 150 firefighting organizations worldwide have achieved CFAI accreditation, which is based on performance and quality-improvement criteria. The Temple Terrace Fire Department was first accredited in 2006, a designation that puts the department among the top-rated firefighting organizations both nationally and internationally, said Mike Dunn, the City’s public information officer.

A fire department’s accreditation must be approved for renewal every five years, said Temple Terrace Fire Chief Keith Chapman. Departments must show they have mastered new, updated standards, regulations and other criteria, as well as making progress on the department’s strategic plan and fulfilling the recommendations of the accreditation team.

“You really have to keep up with your game in order to be reaccredited,” Chapman said. “We’ve seen departments struggle the second time around, so it’s exciting that we got that.”

Temple Terrace’s accreditation renewal was approved unanimously after a 20-minute presentation and question-and-answer period, Chapman said. The Center for Public Safety Excellence will host a banquet Thursday night in Atlanta to present its awards.