Fire Department Wins Panel’s Accreditation

The city’s Fire Department has been accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, officials announced.

The Virginia-based organization analyzes fire departments by a strict set of criteria, including training, administration, public education, and physical and human resources, said commission manager Andrea Walter.

The Culver City Fire Department is the first in California and one of eight in the nation to complete the voluntary accreditation program, she said.

Fire Chief Mike Thompson said the process, which took 14 months to finish, helped streamline the department. One result was the formation of a 15-member citizen’s advisory committee to counsel firefighters on emergency medical services and public education, he said.