2022-02 Hawaii Fire Department Performance Audit

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Chapter 4 Assessment and Planning HFD defined the assessment and planning section as "A process by which the Hawaii Fire Department can evaluate the progress and success in department programs, activities, and services by utilizing established plans identifying goals, strategies, and tactics." HFD's plan model stated that it would pursue four deliverables in the assessment and planning category. We evaluated one item: • Achieve accreditation as a fire department through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI). Results • HFD did not achieve accreditation. Audit Activity We reviewed the County's Final Program Objectives and proposed operating budget, including program highlights from FY 2015-2020. We benchmarked and found that the Honolulu Fire Department was accredited in 2000 by the CFAI and re-accredited in 2005, 2010) 2015, and 2020. As of February 2022, the Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui County Fire Departments are not accredited. Accreditation Overview Accreditation is the process of officially recognizing the organization as having a particular status or being qualified to perform a particular activity and is important to the public interest because it provides assurance that the organization has methodologies to review all aspects of operations. Accreditation is a multi-step process. Accreditation requires aself-assessment of present performance, past performance, defined objectives, and it aids plan creation. Supporting documents and exhibits validating quantitative or qualitative statements are required. A community risk analysis must be performed to assess buildings and infrastructure and classify them into risk categories. This helps the department align its equipment and apparatus to the needs of a potential incident. 17 Page