The City of Clermont Fire Department recently became Lake County’s first department to earn the Commission on Fire Accreditation International’s accreditation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence. The coveted achievement is the gold standard among fire departments nationwide.

Accreditation includes an exhaustive process which includes a review of the fire department’s programs, resources, and planning as well as internal and external focus groups assessing perceptions of the department’s service to the community.

The Clermont Fire Department is one of only 179 civilian units in the world to receive the designation and, of the nearly 500 fire departments and stations in Florida, only 22 have earned accreditation. “We have been working on achieving accreditation for three years,” said the proud Fire Chief Carle Bishop.

The Chief and his department also received the Central Florida Fire Chiefs Association’s (CFFCA) Distinguished Service Award on Thursday, April 12. The award, presented by CFFCA President and Winter Park Fire Chief James White, recognized the Clermont firefighters for their recent international accreditation. The CFFCA is made up of executive-level fire chiefs in Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Lake County.

“We were extremely honored to be given this award, especially from our peers who understand the reward and challenges of committing your life as a firefighter to saving lives and property,” said Chief Bishop.

Bishop is a 4thgeneration Clermont resident who began fighting fires as a teen alongside his father, Clarence Bishop. His dad was a volunteer fire chief when Clermont only had a volunteer fire department. Since then the city has grown and so has its fire department. The department presently has 83 full-time employees and operates four stations, including one joint station with Lake County.  Twenty-seven years ago, Bishop became Clermont’s Fire Chief. The city has grown and so has its fire department; however, one thing remains consistent- Carle Bishop remains a dedicated first responder, making saving lives and property his mission.

Twenty-seven years ago, Bishop became Clermont’s Fire Chief. The city has grown and so has its fire department; however, one thing remains consistent- Carle Bishop is dedicated to saving lives and property.

For Chief Bishop, international accreditation is the apex of his career. It proves that the Clermont Fire Department is second to none.

Congratulations to Fire Chief Carle Bishop and the men and women of the Clermont Fire Department for going that extra mile and confirming that you are Clermont Champions.

 

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