08/18/2026
The Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue (HDFR) has received its third consecutive Accredited Agency status with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) for meeting the criteria established through the CFAI's voluntary self-assessment and accreditation program. HDFR is one of more than 300 agencies to achieve Internationally Accredited agency status with the CFAI and the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc. (CPSE)
First accredited in 2016, HDFR was the first combination fire and rescue agency in the Commonwealth, and only one of ten internationally, to be both internationally accredited and hold the highest Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating of "1." CFAI states that there are 293 accredited agencies, where only 12% of the U.S. population is protected by an accredited agency. There are 15 in Virginia.
CFAI is dedicated to assisting fire and emergency service agencies worldwide in achieving excellence through self-assessment and accreditation, providing continuous quality improvement and enhancing service delivery to their communities. The CFAI process provides an agency with an improvement model to assess its service delivery and performance internally, then works with a team of peers from other agencies to verify and validate the completed self-assessment.
HDFR Fire Chief Jason Monk stated, "We recognize that our strength lies in the trust and support of the Hampton community. True public safety is achieved not in isolation but in partnership with the citizens we serve. We will continue to build meaningful connections, foster transparency, and create opportunities for engagement that reflect our shared values. Together, we will shape a safer, stronger, and more connected Hampton."
Accreditation is a continuous improvement process and is aimed at improving the very services our citizens and visitors expect and deserve. Hampton City Manager Mary Bunting stated that the agency's achievement of Accredited Agency status "demonstrates the commitment of the agency to provide the highest quality of service to our community."
Mayor Jimmy Gray said, "I'm very proud of Hampton Fire & Rescue for the news of the department's reaccreditation. As mayor and as a former fire chief, I know how significant this is and how much work goes into earning it. This is a terrific accomplishment for Chief Monk and every man and woman who is a part of Hampton Fire & Rescue."
