Fire service accreditation
In 2018, we began a multi-year process to become an accredited fire service through the Commission on Fire Service Accreditation (CFAI).
The journey to accreditation exemplifies our commitment to building on the proactive fire department culture, with an emphasis on self-improvement and providing the community with an innovative, progressive fire department that meets and exceeds expectations.
In 2021, we completed the requirements to become a ‘candidate’ agency. We were assigned a Peer Assessment Team slated to visit on-site in January, 2022. This assessment will allow us to apply for formal accreditation at a public hearing in spring 2022.
What's Involved
Gaining international accredited agency status is a rigorous process. If DNVFRS is successful, we will be the first career fire department to achieve accreditation in British Columbia and only one of 10 in Canada.
Here are the steps involved:
- Building an accreditation team
- Creating three documents:
-Community Risk Assessment – Standards of Cover
-Strategic Plan
-Self-Assessment Manual - Peer review of the documents, onsite assessment, and accreditation report
- Meeting requirements of Commission of Fire Accreditation International
Why Become an Accredited Agency?
We are committed to attaining and maintaining CFAI accreditation. The path to achieving this goal provides the opportunities to:
- Emphasize our dedication to excellence
- Establish a culture of continuous improvement
- Receive independent validation of our work
- Provide tangible data for our elected officials and stakeholders
Goals and Performance
The goals and performance of the DNVFRS are articulated in the three companion documents of accreditation:
- Community Risk Assessment /Standards of Cover 2020-2025 (CRA/SOC)
- Fire & Emergency Service Self-Assessment Manual 2021-2026 (FESSAM)
- Strategic Plan 2020-2025
Learn more at our Fire Accreditation webpage.