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About Us

​The Charlotte Fire Department is one of just a few in the country to hold both International Accreditation and a Class 1 Rating from the Insurance Services Office.

International Accreditation:

In 2020, CFD received its fifth accreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI). In order to receive international accreditation, CFAI reviewed the department's assessment in 10 major categories and over 250 performance indicators, ranging from response time, training, resource deployment, public education and more.

Departments seeking accreditation must also compile a strategic plan and risk-hazard assessment. The accreditation is valid for five years, which means departments must continuously review their processes and services to ensure they are providing the best, updated, professional fire service. Just over 300 departments in the country hold this accreditation and the CFD boasts being one of only 113 agencies who hold an ISO 1 rating that are also Accredited.

The year-long accreditation process involved dozens of CFD employees and thousands of hours of work, including data analysis, determining community needs and how CFD can best respond, and developing ways to continue improving over the next five years.

Class 1 PPC Rating:

In 2021, the department maintained a Class 1 Public Protection Classification (PPC) rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO) which is the highest rating possible for fire protection services. The Class 1 rating means business owners, residents and visitors to Charlotte can count on superior fire protection. Out of nearly 50,000 fire protection areas rated in the country, just 388 hold the Class 1 rating. This means Charlotte Fire Department ranks above more than 99% of all fire departments in the United States.

A Class 1 rating may also result in lower fire insurance premiums for homeowners and businesses.

​The Charlotte Fire Department is one of just a few in the country to hold both International Accreditation and a Class 1 Rating from the Insurance Services Office.

International Accreditation:

In 2015, CFD received its fourth accreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI). In order to receive international accreditation, CFAI reviewed the department's assessment in 10 major categories and more than 258 performance indicators, ranging from response time, training, resource deployment, public education and more.

Departments seeking accreditation must also compile a strategic plan and risk-hazard assessment. The accreditation is valid for five years, which means departments must continuously review their processes and services to ensure they are providing the best, updated, professional fire service. Only 200 departments in the country hold this accreditation.

The year-long accreditation process involved dozens of CFD employees and thousands of hours of work, including data analysis, determining community needs and how CFD can best respond, and developing ways to continue improving over the next five years.

Class 1 PPC Rating:

In July 2015, the department achieved the highest rating possible for fire protection services when it received the Class 1 Public Protection Classification (PPC) rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO). The Class 1 rating means business owners, residents and visitors to Charlotte can count on superior fire protection. It is also one of the factors used to determine fire insurance premiums for homeowners and businesses.

Out of 48,574 fire protection areas rated in the country, just 132 received the Class 1 rating. This means the Charlotte Fire Department ranks in the top two-tenths of one percent of all fire departments in the United States.

Click here to read more about CFD's Class 1 rating.


 

CFD By the Numbers:

  • The Charlotte Fire Department provides fire, rescue, hazmat, and emergency medical services to over 1 million residents and visitors of our city 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.  We cover 320.8 square-miles of the city and unincorporated areas, operating out of 43 strategically placed firehouses that are staffed with a minimum of 269 firefighters per day. 

Special Operations: 

  • Two Heavy Rescue Companies 

  • Four Haz-Mat Companies 

  • Six Aircraft Fire & Rescue Vehicles

  • Dive Rescue Team

  • Three Urban Search And Rescue Teams

  • One Fire Boat

  • One Dive Rescue Boat 

In the 2022 Fiscal Year (July 2021- June 2022), CFD:

  • Responded to more than 143,147 incidents

  • Busiest engine company (Engine 22) responded to 5516 calls 

  • Fire Marshals Office completed approximately 40,706 inspections

  • Education Division taught fire safety to 15,000 third graders

 

 

 

​About CFD

 

 

CFD Fire Station Locations<div class="ExternalClass377E495606384BC2A2B53E357B3AA952"><p><img src="/Fire/about-us/PublishingImages/CFD%20All%20Stations%20WEB.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /> </p> </div>
CFD Battalion Areas<div class="ExternalClass4B9FD0C9F2764842A458F982012EBB3C"><p>​<img src="/Fire/about-us/PublishingImages/CFD%20Battalions%20WEB.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /></p></div>
CFD Fact Sheet<div class="ExternalClassD086A582514C4E02A59CA3E9EBE4C1CC"><p>​<a title="CFD Fact Sheet" href="/Fire/about-us/Pages/CFD_Fact_Sheet.aspx"><img alt="CFD Fact Sheet 81215" src="/Fire/about-us/PublishingImages/CFD_Fact_Sheet_81215.jpg" style="margin:5px;width:300px;height:389px;" /></a></p></div>

CFD By the Numbers:Fire Fighter on Ground Ladder

  • The Charlotte Fire Department operates out of 43 fire stations and provides fire protection for approximately 850,00 people living in a 311 square-mile area

  • 42 Engine Companies, 16 Ladder Companies

  • 1,230 full time positions; of those 1,056 are civil service sworn personnel

Special Operations: 

  • Two Heavy Rescue Companies 

  • Four Haz-Mat Companies 

  • Six Aircraft Fire & Rescue Vehicles

  • Dive Rescue Team

  • Three Urban Search And Rescue Teams

  • One Fire Boat

  • One Dive Rescue Boat