The Beverly Hills Fire Department has earned re-accreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), one of only 334 fire agencies nationwide to hold the credential.

The city announced Sept. 3 that the department received Re-Accredited Agency status after completing the CFAI's voluntary self-assessment program. Beverly Hills first earned the accreditation in 2021. The process repeats every five years and takes about two years to complete.

The numbers tell the story.

The department is one of only 127 agencies in the country that holds both a Class-1 ISO rating and CFAI accredited status. Only four agencies in Los Angeles County carry the CFAI credential.

The Class-1 rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO) is the highest on a scale that runs from 1 to 10. Only a small fraction of U.S. fire departments achieve it. The rating reflects benchmarks for rapid emergency response, trained personnel and well-maintained equipment.

"I am incredibly proud of our personnel and grateful to everyone who contributed to this award," Fire Chief Greg Barton said in the announcement.

Barton said the process challenged the department to take an honest look at how it serves the community, identify areas for improvement and set a roadmap for the future.

The department operates three fire stations in Beverly Hills and responds to more than 8,600 incidents each year, according to Canyon News.

Residents can find more information about the department at beverlyhills.org/firedepartment.