SARASOTA COUNTY – Sarasota County Fire Department (SCFD) was unanimously awarded Accredited Agency Status by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) at a hearing in Orlando on Feb. 27, 2024 by meeting the criteria established through the CFAI’s voluntary self-assessment and accreditation program.

SCFD is one of approximately 35 internationally accredited agencies in the state.

"Accreditation is about being better able to serve our community and continual improvement.” said Sarasota County Administrator Jonathan Lewis. "The best practices in fire services are reflected in the accreditation process. Our team has and will continue to work to ensure that we are providing the best possible service while protecting our team members."

“The women and men of Sarasota County Fire Department do an incredible job serving our community every day and in achieving international accreditation, the department further demonstrates its commitment to providing services and responses measured by the highest standards in the world that align with industry best practices for the fire and emergency services,” said Emergency Services director Rich Collins.

The CFAI accreditation model is recognized worldwide as a measure of excellence in the fire service and shows SCFD’s commitment to a high level of service for Sarasota County and dedication to continually assess service delivery, performance and opportunity for improvement internally. The process included a third-party verification and validation by a team of peers to evaluate the department’s self-assessment and ensure compliance with 250 performance indicators.

“This is an incredible accomplishment for this department, completing the detailed and exhaustive process demonstrates our commitment to public safety and the community we serve,” said Sarasota County Fire Chief David Rathbun. “International accreditation and the Commission on Fire Accreditation International’s process is also a commitment to the 

future of the department, as it demands planning and continual improvement in our response, which will directly benefit the residents and visitors of Sarasota County.”

Accreditation status is held for five years, and the process is voluntary. To continue accredited status, SCFD will submit annual compliance reports to the CFAI and complete the full reaccreditation process in 2029.  

About Sarasota County Fire Department: Sarasota County Fire Department is an internationally accredited, all-hazards response department that protects life and property through fire prevention, fire suppression, emergency medical services and special operations response serving unincorporated Sarasota County and the City of Sarasota. 

Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities.  View the complete policy at scgov.net (keywords: ADA compliance).