Offutt Fire Department is recommended for international accreditation

55th Wing Public Affairs

11/7/2014 - OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- After an intensive, three-and-a-half day look behind the scenes, the Offutt Fire Department was recommended for an accreditation with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International on Nov. 5.

This recommendation comes after an exhaustive, two-year evaluation of the department, including more than 1,500 hours of prep-work, providing data, documents, emergency response information and exhibits to the assessors.

"This is a great day for us, just wonderful news," said David Eblin, Offutt fire chief. "They dug really deep, deeper than even I anticipated, but what they found pretty much validates what we're doing here at Offutt."

Once approved, Offutt becomes just the fortieth fire department within the Department of Defense, the fourteenth within the Air Force, and one of only 195 worldwide to earn the accreditation.

"This is huge and I take my hat off to the whole staff -- they've really earned this," Eblin said. "The bottom line is this all comes back to what they're doing on a daily basis."

The four person inspection team included fire-fighting professionals from Colorado, North Carolina, Washington as well as Italy.

"People have to be brave and show a lot of courage in order to allow four strangers from around the world to come into their facility like this," said Gary Curmode, Copper Mountain, Colo., Fire and Rescue Department fire chief, and assessor team lead.

"We reviewed their files, checked out their computers, watched them train, and asked questions, both one-on-one and in a group setting," he said. "It was very apparent that these guys have a passion for what they do and I commend them for their willingness to get this done."

Overall, the department passed 10 inspection categories 77 core competencies, with 43 different criteria, and 253 performance indicators.

"My sincere congratulations to the Offutt Fire Department," said Gary Chesley, 55th Civil Engineer Squadron director and Offutt fire marshal. "This is a tremendous accomplishment and I couldn't be prouder of them."

The final accreditation process takes place in early 2015 when a nine member Commission on Fire Accreditation International board comes together for a final review. They'll provide questions to the department and then vote on final approval. A majority vote is the deciding factor.

Once approved, the Offutt Fire Department must provide an annual report to the commission ensuring all requirements are being met. The accreditation is good for five years at which time the department must reapply and have established a method for achieving continuous organizational improvement.

"Now that this first step is over, we may stop and take a short breath, but it's important that we continue the process we have established," Eblin said. "We need to keep working hard and ensure our accreditation is where it needs to be going forward."

The Offutt Fire Department is a 62 member team, comprised of all Air Force civilians.