Kingston Fire & Rescue Accreditation

Consultation has concluded

KFR accreditation banner


On March 22, 2022 Kingston Fire & Rescue’s commitment to continuous improvement has been endorsed and validated by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, as KFR became one of 10 fire services in Canada to achieve accreditation through the CFAI. 


Get Involved 

Help KFR understand your priorities– and how it can better serve you.

  • Learn about KFR’s emergency services, programs and performance metrics.
  • Complete a brief survey to inform KFR’s way forward. Your input is foundational and will help the department identify strengths, areas for improvement, and shape the strategic plan it will submit to the CPSE for consideration.

KFR accreditation banner


On March 22, 2022 Kingston Fire & Rescue’s commitment to continuous improvement has been endorsed and validated by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, as KFR became one of 10 fire services in Canada to achieve accreditation through the CFAI. 


Get Involved 

Help KFR understand your priorities– and how it can better serve you.

  • Learn about KFR’s emergency services, programs and performance metrics.
  • Complete a brief survey to inform KFR’s way forward. Your input is foundational and will help the department identify strengths, areas for improvement, and shape the strategic plan it will submit to the CPSE for consideration.

About accreditation 

Accreditation is about striving for excellence. “Agencies become accredited after peer review of their accreditation documents, completion of an onsite assessment, and participation in a public hearing before the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. Accreditation is valid for five years.”

Accreditation would achieve the following:

  • Formalize KFR’s process for measuring, reviewing, and acting on the data it collects to continuously improve response times, emergency services, fire prevention, education, inspections and more.
  • Establish a ‘Standards of Cover’ document that allows KFR to balance risk and resource availability in an ultimate effort to save lives and limit property damage.
  • Commit to an annual peer review of its performance.


Consultation has concluded

  • Accreditation Update

    The Centre for Public Safety Excellence quality improvement through accreditation program is administered by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI). This program supports the continuous quality improvement of fire protection services across the globe.

    The Centre for Public Safety Excellence accreditation program is a comprehensive self-assessment and evaluation model that enables organizations to examine past, current, and future service levels and internal performance while comparing them to industry best practices.

    Did you know?

    • 291 accredited agencies across the globe.
    • 12% of the U.S. population is protected by an accredited agency
    • 18% of the Canadian population is protected by an accredited agency.


    Kingston Fire & Rescue is reaching a significant milestone in the journey to become one of only nine accredited agencies in Canada.

    A four person peer review team from across Canada will be attending Kingston Fire & Rescue ( KFR) from Dec. 4 to 9, 2021 to verify and validate KFR’s accreditation documents and references that were submitted in advance of the site visit.

    The peer review team will be attending from three different fire services that include Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. The peer review team are specially trained to assess KFR’s documentation regarding the quality and delivery of its fire protection services and programs.

    If the outcome is successful, a final report will be submitted to the Centre for Public Safety Excellence recommending accreditation status. Each year, an annual compliance report will be filed and shared across the area of responsibility with the results of KFR’s continuous quality service improvement initiatives.

    Kingston Fire & Rescue is excited about this process as it provides a way to measure and constantly improve the local provisions of fire service programs delivered across Kingston on a continuous basis in accordance with the Fire Services Bylaw 2021-91.

    The community and stakeholder feedback received through our most recent strategic planning process was used in part to complete KFR’s submission of the required documents.

  • Learn more about KFR


    Many people are familiar with Kingston Fire & Rescue's frontline staff. But what about the individuals working behind the scenes?

    Learn more about KFR's seven divisions, and the work they're doing to make Kingston a safe and thriving community. Explore resources available under Related Documents and Links, in the right sidebar.





    The brown graphic with orange splashing, reads: Kingston Fire & Rescue. Seven divisions. One team.

    [Flame icon] Fire prevention division: educate inspect, investigate.

    [Firetruck icon] Firefighting division: firefighting, emergency response, technical rescue.

    [Icon of cogs] Mechanical division: helping support a safe and reliable response.

    [Megaphone icon] Communications division: connecting those in need with first responders.

    [Hat icon] Training divisions: building the skillsets to serve the community.

    [Firefighter icon] Emergency management division: keeping Kingston safe through preparedness

    [Hierarchy icon] Administration division: supporting, managing, and evaluating department operations.

    Learn more about each division, and Kingston Fire & Rescue's services by reviewing the resource and link section, located in the right column of the page.