GREENVILLE, N.C. - The City of Greenville Fire/Rescue Department was recently recognized as one of the top-performing departments in the nation and the world.

The department was awarded accreditation status from the Commission on Fire Accreditation (CFAI). For Greenville Fire/Rescue, the accreditation recognizes best practices and self-accountability while validating that the department provides residents, visitors, and business communities with industry-leading fire protection and emergency services.

The CFAI accreditation program provides a framework for fire services to set goals, develop evidence-based strategic plans, and improve emergency services delivered. The multi-year journey to accreditation involved an in-depth review of every aspect of Greenville Fire/Rescue's operations, which were evaluated against 256 key performance indicators and international best practices. This included a detailed self-assessment, a comprehensive peer review by a panel of external experts, and formal verification by an 11-member commission.

"I am extremely proud of everyone in Greenville Fire/Rescue for this accomplishment," Fire/Rescue Chief Brock Davenport said. "This accreditation demonstrates the commitment of the department to provide the highest quality of service to our community. We have also been able to use the Commission on Fire Accreditation International's process as a proactive mechanism to plan for the future of our department and locate areas where we can improve our service."

The accredited status of Greenville Fire/Rescue is evaluated every five years. GFR last earned the accreditation in 2019. The process confirms the department's commitment to monitor performance, evaluate results, and measure outcomes against industry best practices to ensure the delivery of emergency services that meet the needs of Greenville.

CFAI is a component of the Center for Public Safety Excellence, a nonprofit group that promotes continuous quality improvements to emergency services. The Commission's goals are to promote organizational self-improvement, help fire departments improve services, and award accreditation status in recognition of excellent performance.

"This accreditation is just the latest example of the City's commitment to excellence in fire and emergency services," City Manager Michael Cowin said. "The staff at Greenville Fire/Rescue works hard every day to keep our residents and visitors safe. This acknowledges that effort, and we are proud of the work that has gone into accomplishing this goal."

For more information about the accreditation process, click here.