The Lenexa Fire Department was unanimously awarded Accredited Agency Status by the Commission of Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) at the Center for Public Safety Excellence Commission hearings in Henderson, Nevada in February, 2008. This is the second time the Lenexa Fire Department has been awarded accredited agency status by the commission.
The Lenexa Fire Department is currently one of only 128 agencies worldwide to obtain CFAI Accredited Agency Status.
Accreditation requires months and even years of rigorous preparation by the fire staff followed by in-depth scrutiny by an accreditation review team. In October 2007, a team of fire service professionals recommended accreditation status for the Lenexa Fire Department following a five-day site visit to Lenexa. The site visit, conducted by peer assessors from three states and Canada, confirmed that the Fire Department met all criteria established through CFAI's voluntary self-assessment and accreditation program. The evaluation process included verification and validation of programs and services provided by the department, along with in-depth reviews of City and Fire Department policies, principles, and practices. The Department leadership then had to go before the Commission board for final approval. Accredited status is good for five years before a completely new review is required. During that five year period, annual compliance reports must be completed showing progress in recommended areas.
The goal of the CFAI is to assist fire and emergency service agencies throughout the world in achieving excellence through self-assessment, accreditation, and continuous quality improvement in order to enhance service delivery to their communities.
For more information, visit the Center for Public Safety Excellence website
