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HFD does not have standards of cover. An applicant seeking accreditation must develop <br />standards of cover, a comprehensive evaluation of the community including demographics, <br />population density, land or infrastructure limitations, and seasonal impacts on resources. It also <br />evaluates staffing, deployment, and performance, including total response times, call processing, <br />dispatch, turnout, and travel times. <br /> <br />Data points work together to create baseline measurements. Baselines are then used to establish <br />objectives and goals. This drives the department's placement of people and resources and helps <br />to identify future needs. <br /> <br />An example of standards of cover can be found at: <br />https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/ScottsdaleAZ/Fire/SOC15.p d f <br /> <br />Accreditation sometimes fails because of misunderstandings of the approach to adoption, <br />conformance to consensus standards, and cost. <br /> <br />Approach <br /> <br />Accreditation is an ongoing process, not a start-stop project which can be delegated to someone <br />or implemented with strict deadlines. Management should consider field employees' feedback <br />when developing its data. <br /> <br />Consensus Standards <br /> <br />One misconception for agencies seeking accreditation is that they must fully comply with Chapter <br />4, Section 4.1.2.1 response standard of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1710, <br />Standard for The Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency <br />Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments. <br /> <br />Accreditation evaluates the departments past performance and sets the direction for the future. It <br />also considers best practices and standards, creates benchmarks, sets goals, and compels the <br />department to make incremental improvements. <br /> <br />Accreditation does not require compliance with all standards. Accreditation certifies that the <br />department has adequate means to continually self-improve. A prudently run department may <br />use accreditation as justification for resource requests. <br /> <br />Cost <br /> <br />Accreditation has associated expenses. Estimates indicate a department should secure an <br />average of approximately fifteen thousand dollars annually and thirty thousand dollars every five <br />years to support fees, member accreditation, training, travel, site visits, clerical support, and <br /> <br /> <br />18 Page <br />