The Cathedral City Fire & EMS Department is proud to announce that it has officially obtained accreditation through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) and the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE). This significant milestone, recognized today at the CPSE Excellence Conference in Orlando, Florida, marks a transformative moment for our department, our community, and the city as a whole. As a member of this dedicated team, I am thrilled to share what this achievement means for all of us.
After years of rigorous self-assessment, strategic planning, and a comprehensive four-day site visit by CFAI peer assessors in January 2025, Cathedral City Fire & EMS has been recommended for this elite status. The accreditation reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence, as evaluated across 11 categories, 250 performance indicators, and 96 metrics. With this accomplishment, we join an exclusive group of just over 300 fire and emergency service agencies worldwide that have earned this prestigious designation. Notably, this makes Cathedral City Fire & EMS the only fire department in the Coachella Valley to obtain this elite status and one of only three in Riverside County, further distinguishing our commitment to excellence in the region.
A Triumph for the Fire Department
For our department, CFAI accreditation is a testament to the hard work, professionalism, and dedication of every firefighter, paramedic, and support staff member. “This process has strengthened our team from the inside out,” said Fire Chief Michael Contreras. “It’s given us a clear roadmap to identify our strengths, address our gaps, and continuously improve our operations.” The accreditation process has empowered us to align our services with industry best practices, enhance our training programs, and optimize resource allocation, all while fostering a culture of pride and accountability among our members. As a CFAI-accredited agency, we now have access to a network of peer agencies, enabling us to share knowledge and innovate further to keep our community safe.
A Safer, Stronger Community
For the residents of Cathedral City, this accreditation translates to a higher quality of life. The process required us to conduct a detailed community risk assessment and develop tailored standards of cover, ensuring our response times, resource deployment, and emergency services meet the specific needs of our city. “This isn’t just about meeting benchmarks, it’s about exceeding expectations,” Contreras stated. “Our community can trust that we’re prepared for any emergency, from fires to medical calls, with a data-driven approach that prioritizes their safety and well-being.” Accreditation also enhances our community outreach efforts, strengthening partnerships through programs like our Firefighter Cadet Program and Community Risk Reduction Program and emergency preparedness initiatives, ensuring Cathedral City remains resilient and informed.
A Win for the City as a Whole
For the City of Cathedral City, this achievement signals a commitment to excellence that extends beyond our department. As a representative of CFAI and CPSE, I can attest that accreditation brings tangible benefits to municipal leadership and taxpayers alike. It demonstrates fiscal responsibility by ensuring resources are used efficiently and effectively, while providing city officials with a clear, measurable framework to evaluate our performance. “Accreditation elevates the entire city,” said a CPSE spokesperson. “It showcases Cathedral City as a forward-thinking community that invests in safety, professionalism, and continuous improvement, qualities that attract residents, businesses, and visitors alike.” This recognition also enhances our city’s reputation on a national and international stage, aligning us with the highest standards in public safety.
Fire Chief Michael Contreras emphasized the collaborative nature of this achievement, stating, “This accreditation is a true team effort between the city, the fire department, our incredible employees, and the community we serve. Without the steadfast support of our community members and the unwavering commitment of the City Council, this would have been impossible. I want to personally thank everyone involved, our staff for their dedication, our residents for their trust, and our city leaders for their partnership. Together, we’ve built something remarkable, and I’m deeply grateful for every contribution that made this day possible.”
City Manager Charlie McClendon also expressed his pride in the department’s accomplishment: “The accreditation of our Fire & EMS Department represents the culmination of years of dedicated work and unwavering commitment to excellence. I couldn’t be more proud of Chief Contreras and the entire team for their efforts to elevate our emergency services to world-class standards. This achievement demonstrates the department’s commitment to providing the highest level of protection for our residents, businesses, and visitors. The data-driven approaches and continuous improvement processes implemented through this accreditation directly translate to a safer Cathedral City for everyone. This accomplishment reinforces what we already knew—that Cathedral City has one of the finest Fire & EMS departments in Southern California.”
The journey to accreditation has been a collaborative effort, guided by the CFAI model of self-assessment and peer review, and supported by CPSE’s mission to lead fire and emergency services to excellence. “This milestone reflects the power of the CFAI process,” said a CFAI representative. “It’s not just a badge, it’s a promise to uphold the highest standards, today and into the future.”
As we celebrate this achievement, Cathedral City Fire & EMS remains dedicated to serving with compassion, respect, and purpose. We invite our community to join us in this pride and to continue partnering with us as we strive to be the premier fire department in the Coachella Valley.
For more information, please contact:
Michael A. Contreras
Fire Chief, Cathedral City Fire & EMS
MContreras@Cathedralcity.gov
About CFAI and CPSE
The Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) and the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) work together to promote continuous quality improvement in fire and emergency services worldwide. CFAI accreditation is a rigorous, voluntary process that evaluates agencies against industry-leading standards, while CPSE provides the tools, training, and support to achieve and sustain excellence.
