The Gilbert Fire and Rescue Department earned a five-year accreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International for the second time in a row.

This recognition reflects the skill that GFRD brings to its calls and rescues. 

The CFAI accreditation process ensures fire departments meet high standards of service and safety by requiring a self-assessment, peer review from the CFAI assessment team and public input to ensure department goals are aligned with the community's needs. 

To receive this accreditation, GFRD completed a community risk assessment,  which helps identify potential hazards and reduce risks by analyzing the most common emergency calls and provide the proper tools to reduce the severity of those calls. 

The department also conducted a standards of cover analysis to evaluate equipment, response times, and overall service effectiveness.  

In addition, the department created a five-year strategic plan, which provides a roadmap for the organization to achieve. This plan is updated quarterly and annually to measure the progression toward goal completion and to adapt to emerging threats that occur during the five-year period. 

Completion of our second CFAI signifies the town’s and GFRD’s commitment to continuous improvement.

“We accomplish this by leveraging the collective strength of our members, input from our community, and unrelenting support from the Town Manager’s Office and our elected officials," Fire Chief Rob Duggan said in a release. "I’m proud that our Strategic Plan addresses current and emerging threats while remaining nimble to future, yet unseen challenges.

"The plan aligns with the town’s initiatives while supporting the pillars of fire service excellence: maintain or improve service levels, support our people and maximize positive impact on our community."

The accreditation process included a core team from GFRD, consisting of Fire Chief Rob Duggan, Assistant Fire Chief Cory Gerard, Fire Solutions Manager Linda McGuire, Captain Carl Grant and Firefighter Shea Kearney.