Seminole County, Fla. (May 12, 2026) – The Seminole County Fire Department (SCFD) was recently awarded the “Gold Standard” by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS). The Department earned a perfect score from the evaluators. This is the fifth time SCFD has been CAAS re-accredited, and the Department was first accredited in 2011.

There are only 34 fire departments in the United States that are CAAS accredited. In total, there are 189 CAAS accredited agencies in the United States (including private, public, fire department, and hospital-based ambulances). There are only 24 CAAS-accredited agencies in the State of Florida tying California for the most accredited agencies in the country.

“Earning CAAS reaccreditation with a perfect score is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the professionalism of our Seminole County Fire Department,” said Chairman Andria Herr of the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners. “This recognition reflects the high standard of emergency medical care our residents rely on every day and reinforces our commitment to providing exceptional public safety services.” 

Accreditation is considered one of the highest standards of professionalism across public safety agencies. It is based on the Department’s demonstrated commitment to a body of standards deemed essential to the safety and health of the public.

“Around 76% of response calls by our EMTs and paramedics are emergency medical services-related,” said Fire Chief Matt Kinley of the Seminole County Fire Department. Last year, SCFD responded to 38,455 EMS incidents. “We are committed to continually offering the highest standard of quality prehospital care. I thank the 580 men and women in the Seminole County Fire Department who are dedicated to this standard of excellence that they provide to our citizens on a daily basis.”

CAAS re-accreditation occurs every three years. This process incorporates a model of continuous self-evaluation and improvement. These processes are then verified and validated through an auditing process that includes a comprehensive self-assessment and an independent external on-site review conducted by CAAS representatives. The accreditation process examines all aspects of ambulance operations and emergency medical services, from administrative and finance to community education, quality control, injury and illness prevention, safe operations, medical protocols, medical direction, interagency relations, and quality of patient care.