Huntley firefighters earn national honor

Five years of meticulous self-scrutiny have finally paid off for the Huntley Fire Protection District.

The Commission on Fire Accreditation International, a nonprofit group that sets professional standards for fire departments, has awarded national accreditation to the Huntley fire district - the first in McHenry County and one of a dozen in the state to earn that status.

"They're one of the rare departments in the country that have accomplished this," said Naperville Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis, who helped advise the Huntley fire district on how to achieve accreditation.

Due in part to the department's efforts to earn accreditation, the fire district last year received lower insurance ratings - which could lead to insurance savings for homeowners, Huntley Fire Chief Jim Saletta said.

If the district has to borrow money for a new fire station, the financial standards the department met could result in a better credit rating and lower interest rates.

To become accredited, Huntley firefighters, under the supervision of Deputy Chief Ken Caudle, developed a plan of action for numerous emergency situations, evaluated every aspect of the department and created a 5-year improvement plan.

"The process was more important than the actual accreditation," Saletta said. "We pursued it because it's a means for us to take an in-depth look at our operations, including our emergency response capabilities."