Accreditation

Accreditation

The Washington Township Fire Department's mission is to provide exceptional emergency and non-emergency services to enhance the safety and well-being of our community. The department's vision is to provide the highest quality, most effective, safe and compassionate emergency services in the region.

Washington Township Fire Department is the only department in the Miami Valley and one of just 10 across Ohio to be accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), an internationally-recognized benchmark for fire and emergency services. Accreditation was awarded in 2008, 2013, 2018, and 2023.

Achieving and maintaining CFAI accreditation is a significant undertaking that requires leadership, the combined efforts of all department members, and a culture of quality throughout the organization. Both accreditation and reaccreditation involved a rigorous five-year process that encompassed all aspects of department operations.

Accreditation Process

Accreditation necessitates the development and maintenance of several key documents, including a Strategic Plan, Self-Assessment Manual, and a Standards of Cover and Community Risk Assessment. Department operations are validated and verified during an on-site visit by a peer assessment team and CFAI commissioners provide a panel review.

Reasons for Accreditation

Accreditation is an international recognition of achievement. It shows our community that we continually self-assess, look for opportunities for improvement, and are transparent and accountable through third party verification and validation.

We want our services to be the best and the CFAI accreditation process helps us accomplish that. CFAI provides a system for local governments to assess their communities' needs and a method for fire departments to evaluate their performance.

Perhaps most significantly, the accreditation process has placed the Washington Township Fire Department on a path to continuous improvement, starting with a self-review and continuing on through the creation and implementation of a strategic plan. The department has embraced the continuous service improvement model, knowing that no matter how hard we strive, there always will be room for improvement. As a result, this model promises to enhance the services our community receives now and into the future.