The Kent Regional Fire Authority is proud to announce that after many months of hard work, we have received our National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA) accreditation. NAFA is the only recognized accreditation program in the country for vehicle fleets.

NAFA’s accreditation status is important to our department because it provides a singular set of standards and unique tools that help vehicle fleets measure, track, and score accomplishments towards sustainability. Sustainability means managing and reducing the net environmental impacts of a vehicle fleet.

The Kent Regional Fire Authority is the first fire department in the country to receive this accreditation. We are especially proud, because fire departments by their nature push their vehicles to do more than more “typical” vehicle fleets. This makes meeting the high standards set by NAFA even more difficult.

So what did the Kent Regional Fire Authority do to become accredited?

In January of 2015, the Kent Regional Fire Authority’s vehicle maintenance shop began a Green on Scene campaign.

The goals of the initiative included:

 Improving air quality through emission reduction

 Increasing fuel efficiency

 Reducing fuel usage

 Reducing carbon footprint

To accomplish these goals the Kent RFA:

 Began working with those that drive fire apparatus on driving in a more efficient manner without sacrificing the need to respond to calls quickly.

 Installed “idle reduction” systems in large emergency vehicles that shut down the diesel engines when idling and using battery power or a small generator to power emergency lights and other equipment.

 Purchased hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles for non-emergency use.

 Substituted vegetable oil for petroleum based oil for certain systems.

 Began reusing oil rather than disposing of it.

Accreditation is important to the Green on Scene program and again, sets the standards that will help the Kent Regional Fire Authority continue to provide our residents and businesses with the best and most cost effective services that we can.

According to Division Chief Mark Jones, the head of the vehicle maintenance shop, “I’m extremely proud of what the members of the vehicle maintenance shop have accomplished to get us accredited. When you look at other fire departments across the country, we are on the cutting edge of fleet management.”