HOW to become IFSD "ACCREDITED"?

Opening in The Fall of 2025

Any Fire Department that has already achieved IFSD “Registered” status and has advanced its structure, leadership, training, cultural integration, and operational systems to a higher level may apply to become “Accredited / Certified.”

This designation formally recognizes that the department has attained an elevated professional standard of Indigenous fire service delivery. This Certificate Award is valid for 3 years and is renewable upon re-certification. Again the FD needs to provide structured and coordinated Fire Rescue services to an Indigenous community to become "Accredited." 

This shows that the Fire Department has established the professional level leadership, governance, structure, standards, branding, contact and operational standards needed.  (The Fire Department can be paid, volunteer, composite, paid on call, etc.)

SHOW YOUR PROUD ACHIEVEMENT | SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS ARE AWARDED

Upon successful application the Fire Chief or the Department Designate will receive "Registered IFSD Fire Department" items

• An IFSD Accredited, Fire Department Certificate

• An IFSD Cloth Patch*

• An IFSD Uniform Registered FD Pocket Badge*

• An IFSD Website Listing & Announcement

• Access to IFSD Reference Information & Network

• Their ACCREDITED listing in the IFSD National Fire Directory 

Accredited Departments demonstrate commitment to:

• Health & safety

• Indigenous awareness and cultural alignment

• Documented training systems

• Structured leadership and governance

• Interagency collaboration

• Operational preparedness and accountability

(The department may be volunteer, paid, composite, or mixed—as long as the criteria are met.)

ELIGIBLE FIRE DEPARTMENTS

To apply for Accredited status, the department must:

• Already be an IFSD Registered Fire Department in good standing

• Be based on or respond to Indigenous communities

• Preferably have proven deployments, service, or support history

• Demonstrate operational maturity and leadership structure

Terminology: Indigenous generally used to mean First Nations, Métis Mateis, Inuit, Tribal, etc.

SUMMARY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FD (FIRE DEPARTMENT)

✅ Already holds Registered Status with IFSD (Level 1)

✅ Formally governed, with an up-to-date Org Chart and Command Structure

✅ Fire Chief & or Deputy with Leadership Certification (e.g., NFPA 1021, CPSE CFO, or equivalent)

✅ Training Officer and/or Fire Prevention Officer formally appointed

✅ Officers with Instructor or Officer-Level Training (e.g., NFPA 1041 / Fire Officer I+)

✅ Firefighters with 2+ years experience or NFPA-based certification

✅ A monthly published training calendar and training attendance log

✅ Each training session has a Lesson Plan and Safety Plan

✅ The department has an active Grievance / Complaint Process

✅ WSIB or similar insurance coverage for members

✅ Uniform and PPE Standards aligned with NFPA or best practice

✅ Health & Safety culture, including accountability, scene safety, and minimum staffing protocols

✅ At least one Fire Response Vehicle per operational service provided

✅ Interagency MoUs, partnerships, or mutual aid agreements

✅ All members complete Indigenous Awareness / Cultural Competency Training

✅ Opportunity and evidence of the NFPA 1582 standard for medical screening and evaluation of firefighters

✅ Opportunity for operational members to meet medical style entrance standard (e.g., CPAT)

✅ Opportunity for operational members to meet a fitness standard (e.g., CPAT / York / WFX-FIT)

HOW TO APPLY

Becoming Accredited shows your Fire Department is operating at a higher tier of professional Fire Department and culturally-aligned service. You are prepared, equipped, trained, and connected.

To apply, attest that you are a current IFSD Department in good standing and then simply complete the IFSD Accredited Application Form (Section B2) and include the following:

✅ Already holds IFSD Registered Status (Level 1) in good standing

✅ Formally governed, with a published Organizational Chart, Rank Structure, and Chain of Command

✅ Fire Chief or 50% of Command Leadership has recognized Fire Department leadership credentials (e.g., NFPA 1021, CPSE CFO, CAFC ECFO, or equivalent)

✅ Training Officer and/or Fire Prevention Officer formally appointed and actively performing Prevention &/or Training

✅ 50% or more of Fire Officers have Instructor or Fire Officer training (e.g., NFPA 1041, 1021, or equivalent)

✅ 50% of Firefighters have 2+ years experience or are trained to NFPA 1001 Firefighter I/II standard &/or NFPA 1140 (if a Wildland Department) and/or Full Small Fire Suppression (SFS) for Indigenous Communities or equivalent

✅ A published training calendar, with monthly sessions tracked by attendance and topic logs

✅ Every training session includes a Lesson Plan and a documented Safety Plan with samples

✅ Fire Department maintains a written Health and Safety Policy, and supportive documents including mention of a Member Assistance Plan (MAP) mental wellness & critical incident stress protocols

✅ Personal Injury Insurance &/or WSIB coverage in place for all active members (proof required)

✅ All members issued appropriate PPE (boots, helmets, gloves, bunker gear) aligned with appropriate standards NFPA / EN etc.

✅ Any equipment and vehicles are subject to regular maintenance, inspections, and testing (e.g., SCBA checks, pump tests as per NFPA 1911 guidelines)

✅ The Fire Department has at least one fully operational response vehicle with temporary or permanent Fire Department livery and markings which identify it as an Emergency Response vehicle and ideally the "type" e.g. ANYFN Fire Department" "RESCUE 1" 

✅ Dispatch: Uses a formal or app-based dispatch which has the ability to export the response log after.

FEE

There is a $1000 fee to assess and process the Accreditation application and deliver the associated materials.

BURSARY / GRANT SUPPORT

For smaller or underfunded departments with volunteer structures, IFSD may offer partial financial support upon request.

APPLICATION

When you are ready to apply, and become REGISTERED, simply CLICK HERE!

Pocket Badge & Cloth Badge*

The metal Pocket Badge can be worn over Class A Uniform tunics / jackets on the right pocket or even on the right pocket of smart Class B Uniform. The cloth badge can be work on "working fatigues" (Class B Work wear) or Station Wear (T Shirt, Job Shirt, etc.)