The Owensboro City Commission has formally adopted the Owensboro Fire Department’s Community Risk Assessment and Standards of Cover document, a step tied to the department’s ongoing effort to earn national accreditation.
City Manager Nate Pagan told commissioners during their meeting last week that the document outlines the types of risks faced in the community — including fires, hazardous materials incidents, and medical emergencies — and evaluates how the department deploys resources to address them.
Pagan said the assessment was developed using incident data and research conducted by the fire department to better understand community needs and to guide future improvements.
“This municipal order approves the adoption of our fire department’s Community Risk Assessment and Standards of Cover document,” Pagan said. “The document describes the risk from fire, hazardous materials, health emergencies, and more, based on incident data and research by the fire department.”
He said the document also details how the department currently responds to those risks and includes a multi-point improvement plan created by Fire Chief James Howard.
“Importantly, the document also describes the resources that our fire department deploys to mitigate those risks,” Pagan said. “A key feature is a multi-point plan developed by the fire chief to guide continuous improvement of the agency based on findings throughout the document.”
The assessment is a required component of the Owensboro Fire Department’s pursuit of accreditation through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, which operates under the Center for Public Safety Excellence.
Pagan said formal adoption of the document by the city’s governing body is recommended as part of that process.
City officials said the department expects to complete the accreditation process next month.
