Schaumburg Fire Department Receives International Reaccreditation Status

The Village of Schaumburg is pleased to announce that its fire department has received reaccreditation status with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) for the second time. Schaumburg remains in a select group of 10 agencies in the state of Illinois that have received accredited status. Schaumburg's accreditation is valid for five years.

Accreditation is an assessment process that uses benchmarks to measure the delivery of fire and emergency services with the goal of providing continuous quality improvement and improved service to the community.

"Our fire department is committed to providing the highest possible standard of care and it is important that we continually evaluate our performance so that we can best meet the needs of the community," said Schaumburg Fire Chief Jim Walters. "This reaccreditation status, which is an international recognition, demonstrates the professionalism of the department and employees. I am extremely proud of our staff who have worked tirelessly to improve the services provided and are dedicated to making sure we always achieve excellence."

The CFAI process is voluntary and provides an agency with an improvement model to assess its service delivery and performance internally. The department then works with a team of peers from other agencies to evaluate its completed self-assessment. Agencies become accredited after peer review of the accreditation documents, completion of an onsite assessment, and participation in a public hearing, which occurred March 1, before the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. Accredited agencies are often described as being community-focused, data-driven, outcome-focused, strategic-minded, well organized, properly equipped, and properly staffed and trained.

"I commend Chief Walters and the entire Schaumburg Fire Department for going through the accreditation process and for continuing to make improvements so that the village can provide high-quality service to those in need," said Village Manager Brian Townsend. "This recognition is well deserved and is a testament that Schaumburg's fire department is committed to adopting best practices that will improve the quality of life in Schaumburg."

The Schaumburg Fire Department provides suppression and emergency medical services to a daytime population of 150,000. Operating from five fire stations, 120 shift personnel respond to more than 10,000 calls a year.

For information about the Schaumburg Fire Department, visit www.schaumburg.com/fire.

For information about the Commission on Fire Accreditation International accreditation process, visit www.cpse.org.