Buffalo Grove Fire Department earns prestigious international accreditation
"The Buffalo Grove community should be proud that its fire department is now one of only eleven fire departments within the state of Illinois to receive this meaningful recognition," Village Manager Dane Bragg said. "Our residents expect the very best from their fire department, and this accreditation demonstrates the commitment of our fire and EMS professionals to providing them with the highest level of service."
CFAl's accreditation model is centered around a comprehensive self-assessment consisting of 250 different performance indicators that cover the span of fire and emergency service operations. Using these indicators, BGFD assessed its current performance and compared it to industry best practices. Accredited agencies are often described as being community-focused, data-driven, outcome-focused, strategic-minded, well organized, properly equipped and properly staffed and trained.
"We welcomed the CFAl's close examination of our processes as it offered a unique opportunity evaluate how we do things and to see if there might be a different and better approach," said Fire Chief Mike Baker.
The BGFD's accreditation journey began in 2019 and involved extensive work by Fire Management Analyst and Accreditation Manager Tyler Grace to compile nearly 600 pages of assessments and analyses along with over 350 different reference documents. CFAl's review team conducted a comprehensive review of BGFD's assessment and provided its recommendations. Following, the accreditation status was approved unanimously.
"I'm tremendously proud of this achievement" said Chief Baker. '"Going through this process ensures we are best prepared for the risks and challenges of the future."