International fire department accreditation is conducted through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and promotes the idea of continuous improvement throughout the fire service. The process includes the completion of three core documents: The Strategic Plan, Self-Assessment Manual, and Standards of Cover (SOC). The result is a thorough analysis and examination of all areas within the organization resulting in the identification of both organizational strengths and weaknesses.
The SOC includes a community description, department history, climate data, community risk assessment, performance data, baseline and benchmark objectives, compliance methodology, and recommendations for improvement. These recommendations can be found on pages 146 & 147 of the SOC.
As part of the SOC, a community risk assessment was completed using a three-dimensional model including community consequence, incident probability, and department impact. Risks were classified in each response category (fire, EMS, hazmat, and technical rescue) with this model resulting in a risk classification of low, moderate, high/special, or maximum risk. At the conclusion of the risk assessment, it was determined that there were no maximum risks within the city; however, all other categories were utilized. In addition, the department developed critical task models for each risk level. Critical tasks are those that must be completed by the effective response force to stop the escalation of an incident. The connection of the risk classification and critical task analysis allows the department to determine the effective response force (personnel and apparatus) for each risk and provide response protocols matching the risk type. The risk assessment portion of the document provides additional details of both risk classification and critical tasks.
The SOC also requires a performance evaluation to measure the department’s ability to respond to emergencies. A summary of response data for call processing, turnout time, travel time, and total response time during 2014–2018 is provided in the document on pages 112-127. As part of the performance measurement, the department established baseline and benchmark objectives. The baseline objective is the department’s current performance developed as an aggregate of 2014-2018 data. The benchmark objective is the department’s goal based upon national standards and industry best practices. The performance analysis has established baseline service objectives and has provided an opportunity to compare our performance to benchmark goals. These can be found on pages 128-140. Data indicates that the department continues to improve in total response time, but also shows challenges to response performance that are the result of a growing community. The department has taken steps, and continues to pursue, avenues of continuous improvement throughout all of the response time components. The remainder of the SOC document describes in detail both performance capabilities and challenges faced by the organization.
The accreditation process is focused on continuous improvement and must be viewed as a process rather than a project. As a result, the department has developed a compliance strategy geared towards ensuring that the department seeks continuous improvement and strives to achieve the adopted benchmark objectives. The compliance method includes an annual appraisal of risks, critical tasks, department resources, and performance measurements for each of the major response categories. Additionally, the compliance team will make certain that all recommendations of improvement developed during the SOC review process will be carefully assessed and evaluated.
The pursuit of excellence is a noble ambition for any profession and, as a participant within the accreditation process, the Brentwood Fire and Rescue Department has made a commitment to continuously improve with service excellence as the goal. The citizens and community leaders can be assured that the members of BFRD will strive to provide a highly efficient, effective, and innovative response force ready to meet the challenges both today and in the future. The accreditation process has empowered the organization with the data and knowledge necessary to make critical choices for providing the service level expected by the community. The Brentwood Fire and Rescue Department is proud to serve the citizens of Brentwood and will continue to lead the way in pursuit of excellence.
While this comprehensive analysis provides strategic direction for the chief officers tasked with delivering quality fire and rescue services, it is also vitally important that the governing body is made aware of the process and informed of current performance and future benchmark objectives. Recognizing this, the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) has recommended that the jurisdiction’s governing body formally review and adopt the fire department’s established standards of cover. It is for these reasons that we respectfully request that you approve and adopt BRFD’s 2019 SOC.
As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.
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