In mid 2004 the Columbia No. 1 Fire Department became one of 196 departments in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Fire Commissioners Accreditation Program.

Commonwealth emergency responders have an opportunity to participate in the certification program and be recognized as a certified fire service professional at various levels in accordance with nationally recognized and sanctioned Professional Qualification Standards. This certification labels a firefighter as certified to Firefighter-I Level or Firefighter-II Level to participate.

The accreditation program was formed to recognize those organizations that support, promote, and encourage their emergency response personnel to voluntarily certify within the Commonwealth’s Certification Program administered by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. This certification process for each firefighter consists of a written test and a variety of skill stations to demonstrate proficiency.

To receive recognition as a participating department, the minimum number of professionally certified personnel in your department must be equal to or greater than ten percent (10%) of the number of members listed on the active member roster. Companies who have 50%, 75%, or 100% get special recognition.

When the Columbians joined the program in mid 2004, of the over 2200 fire companies in the Commonwealth only 196 departments were participating. Of the 196 participating departments only 20 were certified to 75% level, and 8 to 100%.

The Columbia No. 1 Fire Department become one of 20 departments in the Commonwealth to be recognized to the 75% level, becoming only the third company in Lancaster County to meet that mark and the first in the Borough of Columbia to reach that monumental spot.

Team 8-1 continues its quest to provide quality, dedicated, professional fire protection services to the Borough of Columbia and surrounding communities by continuing to train and excel in there performance. The 8-1 House has not only raised the bar on the level of fire protection the Borough residents deserve and should expect, they set the standard for other departments to reach by becoming a leader and trend setter in the field of fire protection.

Congratulation to Team 8-1 with keeping in the high traditions of the Department and holding our motto high………."Taking Care of Business"

To read more about accreditation visit the Pennsylvania Fire Commissions web site [link]