International Accreditation

The Clermont Fire Department was first accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) in 2018 and was successfully re-accredited in March of 2023.

The process required the agency to meticulously examine and assess 11 categories and nearly 300 individual performance measures that covered the span of fire and emergency services operations, including:

• Governance and Administration
• Assessment and Planning
• Goals and Objectives
• Financial Resources
• Community Risk Reduction Programs
  • Fire Suppression
  • Emergency Medical Services
  • Technical Rescue
  • Hazardous Materials
  • Wildland Firefighting
  • Surface Water Rescue
  • Prevention
  • Public Education
  • Fire Investigation, Origin, and Cause
  • Domestic Preparedness
• Physical Resources
• Human Resources
• Training and Competency
• Essential Resources
• External Systems Relationship
• Health and Safety

As part of the accreditation process, the department conducted internal and external focus groups to assess perceptions of the department's service to the community, resulting in a community-driven strategic plan that defined the Clermont Fire Department’s goals and objectives over the coming five-year period.

Finally, a Standards of Response Coverage document was created from the information gained in the strategic planning process and response history over the past five years. This plan represents a data-driven approach that identifies the risk within the community followed by a strategic approach on how the department will respond, prevent, and mitigate all the identified risks. The Clermont Fire Department Community Risk Assessment and Standards of Cover document defines the most effective method to deploy the Clermont Fire Department’s resources to meet community expectations and maximize positive outcomes.

Accreditation is an international recognition of achievement. The process demonstrates Clermont’s commitment to continually self-assess and identify opportunities for improvement through a peer-reviewed and systematic process that ensures transparency and accountability by on-site third-party verification and validation. 

Once granted, accredited status is good for a five-year period. During the five-year period, the department must complete annual performance appraisals for each service delivery program and submit an Annual Compliance Report to the Center for Public Safety Excellence. At the end of the accreditation period, the Agency must resubmit the entire process to be reaccredited for another five years.

The Clermont Fire Department is one of 26 departments in Florida that have earned accredited status and one of 308 fire agencies worldwide that have this designation.