Accreditation

The Abington Township Fire Department has undertaken a momentous project to ensure that its customers receive the highest quality service. This project is called Accreditation. Through a self assessment, the ATFD has set yearly improvement goals for itself. The Accreditation staff list is below. To keep up with this process, read ATFD Responding, the department's quarterly newsletter.

Fire Services Administrator:
Dave Schramm

Administrative Support Team

Computer Network Administrator:
John Bothwell
Mike Ratka (Assistant)

Fire Training Coordinator:
Larry Siefken
Michael Jones (Assistant)

Operations Support:
Tom McAneney
Joe Doughterty
Chris Mc Loone
Ed Wurster

Abington Township Fire Department (ATFD) Recognized for Training Excellence

Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner Edward Mann recognized the Abington Township Fire Department (ATFD) as a participant in the Pennsylvania Fire Service Certification Program. To receive special recognition as a program participant, a fire department must certify that 50 percent of its members meet National Professional Qualifications Standards. The ATFD boasts 126 (80 percent) volunteer firefighters certified to such standards, and is one department of 48 statewide that meets the 75 percent mark.

The purpose of this program is to identify and recognize emergency service personnel whose accomplishments in training and education meets or exceeds nationally recognized standards. The NFPA standards for Fire Service Professional Qualifications identify the minimum requirements for a person at a particular level of progression. A person certified to one of the Fire Service Professional levels will have demonstrated competency in the knowledge and skills required to perform at a particular level. Those organizations that have 50, 75, or 100 percent of their “active” members certified receive special recognition. All organizations recognized receive a certificate for public display and large decals for their apparatus.

Upon presenting representatives from the ATFD’s five fire companies with certificates, Mann stated, “The residents and local government officials should be confident in knowing that the overwhelming majority of the active firefighters in Abington Township have voluntarily proven they are capable and qualified to perform, based on a national standard. The firefighters have proven they have the necessary knowledge and have shown their ability to perform and meet a nationally accepted standard. In other words not only do they talk the walk, they walk the walk as well.”

The award presentation took place before the township’s Public Safety Meeting where Accreditation Manager David Schramm reviewed the 2007 goals for the ATFD’s Accreditation Department. The ATFD is currently participating in a national accreditation program.

For more information, contact David Schramm, Accreditation Manager, Abington Township Fire Department, Abington Township Fire Department, 1176 Old York Road, Abington, PA 19001, (267) 536-1055, dschramm@abington.org, or visit http://www.abingtonfd.org.