The Fargo Fire Department
The Fargo Fire Department is a progressive department balancing community risk reduction with professional emergency response. The department has been accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International since 2010 and is an Insurance Services Office Class 1 Fire Department.
The department is divided into four divisions:
- Operations
- Prevention
- Training
- Emergency Management
Department Mission Statement
The Fargo Fire Department’s mission is to reduce the rate of emergencies through public education and code enforcement; protect lives and property from fire and other emergencies; and respond to emergencies in a professional and courteous manner. We do this by accomplishing six broad goals to meet the public’s needs.
Fargo Fire Department Strategic Plan
View the Fargo Fire Department Strategic Plan
A strategic plan sets goals for the next 3-5 years. The Fargo Fire Department approached its desire for organizational change and continuous improvement by developing a community-driven strategic plan focused on input and participation from the community and agency stakeholders. The success of this community-driven strategic plan will be rooted in a quality implementation and institutionalization plan, and support from all who hold a stake in the FFD.
Fargo Fire Department Community Risk Assessment/Standards of Cover
View the Fargo Fire Department Community Risk Assessment/Standards of Cover
As a community grows and changes, a fire department interested in providing the best service must grow and change as well. Adaptations to new and changing problems, technologies, and population needs must be made in addition to maintaining current levels of service throughout the department. As accredited, continually improving fire departments across the world change and adapt with their communities, the accreditation process through the Center for Public Safety Excellence must change and adapt as well. The Fargo Fire Department has been continually accredited since 2010, and is currently working toward the 10th edition model for the next accreditation cycle, which will be in 2025. A community risk assessment/standards of cover document describes the community, includes a risk assessment, and reports deployment and response goals and current performance.
Regional Service Provision
The department also provides mutual aid assistance to several different agencies locally and regionally. For example, our hazardous materials team responds to southeast North Dakota in cooperation with the ND Department of Emergency Services and northwest Minnesota in cooperation with Moorhead, MN Fire Department. Our technical rescue team responds to southeast North Dakota in cooperation with the ND Department of Emergency Services.
International Accreditation & Service Ratings
Two third party entities regularly measure the department's effectiveness. The first entity is the Commission on Fire Accreditation International from the Center for Public Safety Excellence. There are approximately 32,000 fire departments in the United States so the Fargo Fire Department is proud to be one of the fire departments accredited by the CFAI. The CFAI grants accreditation based on a wide range of department attributes including legal standing, human resources, and emergency response.
The second entity, the Insurance Services Office (ISO), is associated with the insurance industry. The ISO rates our department’s ability to reduce loss within the city. The ISO provides a class rating 1 – 10 based on four separate functions including dispatching, water supply, and the quality of emergency preparedness. A Class 1 rating is the highest and Class 10 rating is essentially equal to having no fire protection. Fargo is rated as a Class 1 fire department.