Fire and Emergency Service

Fire Accreditation Process

Section 3:
Using the FESSAM

Section 3 - Objectives
Students will be able to:
Identify the general contents and purposes of
each FESSAM section.
Describe how each section relates to the selfassessment.

Recognize that the FESSAM is the key tool

available for guidance through the process of
researching and writing an agencys selfassessment.
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What is the FESSAM?

The Fire & Emergency
Service Self-Assessment
Manual (FESSAM) is the
basic document that guides
the self-assessment and
accreditation process.
This manual serves as the
tool for effectively assessing
and evaluating todays fire
service organizations.

What is the FESSAM?

Written primarily for the self-assessment
process, but also presents information about the
work of managing and leading a modern fire
service agency.
Contains a lot of valuable information for the
self-assessment process.

Contains many checklists, sample documents

and instructions for development of the agencys
Self-Assessment Manual.
4

Finding Information
FESSAM Quick Reference

Finding Information
FESSAM Quick Reference
Bookmarking the FESSAM

Bookmarking the FESSAM

Use sticky notes
to mark various
sections of the
FESSAM.
Highlight section
headings so they
standout more
clearly.
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Bookmarking the FESSAM

Section 1: Fire Service Accreditation
Provides an
introduction/overview to
fire accreditation.
Read before proceeding
with the self-assessment.

Be familiar with:
Terminology
Definitions
Flow of the process
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Bookmarking the FESSAM

Section 2: Introduction to Organizational SelfAssessment
Provides an introduction/overview to the selfassessment process.
Read before proceeding with the self-assessment.

Be familiar with:
Terminology,

Definitions and
Flow of the process
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Bookmarking the FESSAM

Section 3: Risk Assessment, Standards of Cover
and Strategic Planning
Strategic Planning is covered in this course; the
Risk Assessment process as well as the
Standards of Cover are included in the next
course, (Basic Standards of Cover).
Read for future reference and to better
understand
where
self-assessment
fits
strategically.
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Bookmarking the FESSAM

Section 4: Categories and Criteria
Contains the categories, criteria and
performance indicators used to conduct the selfassessment.
Divided into:

10 Categories
43 Criteria

258 Performance Indicators

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Bookmarking the FESSAM

Section 4: Categories and Criteria
Bold text with a starburst symbol containing CC
identifies a core competency (discussed in detail in
the next section).
82 Performance Indicators are considered Core
Competences. Pass/Fail and must be met to be
considered a Candidate for Accreditation.
Underlined Text identifies words to help you build the
questions that need to be answered in each
Performance Indicator.
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Bookmarking the FESSAM

Section 5: Research and Information
Collection Guide
Contains worksheets with evaluation questions
and topics for each Category.
Worksheets assist in collecting critical data to
prepare written responses to the Criteria and
Performance Indicators.
Read the preface and become familiar with the
worksheets before proceeding with the selfassessment process.
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Bookmarking the FESSAM

Appendix:
Contains four helpful resources:
Appendix A: Accredited Agency Annual Compliance
Report (ACR)
Appendix B: Emergency Vehicle Safety Best Practice
Self Assessment
Appendix C: Glossary of Terms
Appendix D: CPSE Technical Advisor Program

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FESSAM Scavenger Hunt

Information to be found in the FESSAM will be
displayed
GO! Race to find the information

Call out I GOT IT!

First to call out I GOT IT! must identify the
exact location of the information in the 8th Edition
of the FESSAM
Correct answer is displayed
15

FESSAM Scavenger Hunt

Find:
The section that introduces and explains the
self-assessment process in detail
(provide the page number and section title).

Location:
Page 23
Section 2: Introduction to Organizational Self
Assessment

16

FESSAM Scavenger Hunt

Find:
Category X of the Research and Information
Collection Guide
(provide the page number and category title).

Location:
Page 234
Category X: External Systems Relationships
17

FESSAM Scavenger Hunt

Find:
The section that introduces and explains the
fire accreditation process in detail
(provide the page number and section title).

Location:
Page 9
Section 1: Fire Service Accreditation
18

FESSAM Scavenger Hunt

Find:
Performance Indicator 3C.1
(provide the page number and Performance
Indicator description).

Location:
Page 87

The agencys goals and objectives are examined

and modified at least annually
19

FESSAM Scavenger Hunt

Find:
The sub-section that explains the use of
TQM concepts
(provide the page number).

Location:
Page 33
20

FESSAM Scavenger Hunt

Find:
Criterion 8C
(provide the page number and criterion title).

Location:
Page 103
Training and Education Resources
21

FESSAM Scavenger Hunt

Find:
The first appendix
(provide the page number and appendix title).

Location:
Page 239
Appendix A: Accredited Agency Annual
Compliance Report (ACR)
22

FESSAM Scavenger Hunt

Find:
Category VII of the Research and Information
Collection Guide
(provide the page number and category title).

Location:
Page 208
Category VII: Human Resources
23

FESSAM Scavenger Hunt

Find:
The sub-section that explains the collection
of data using your memory bank
(provide the page number).

Location:
Page 27
24

FESSAM Scavenger Hunt

Find:
Performance indicator 7A.1
(provide the page number and performance
indicator description).

Location:
Page 99
A human resource manager is designated.
25

FESSAM Scavenger Hunt

Find:
Response Benchmarks and Baselines
(provide the page number).

Location:
Pages 70-71

26

FESSAM Scavenger Hunt

Find:
Performance indicator 8C.2
(provide the page number and performance
indicator description).

Location:
Page 103
Instructional personnel are available to meet
the needs of the agency.

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FESSAM Scavenger Hunt

Find:
The second appendix
(provide the page number and appendix title).

Location:
Page 243
Appendix B: Emergency Vehicle Safety Best Practice Self-Assessment
28

FESSAM Scavenger Hunt

Find:
Category III of the Research and Information
Collection Guide
(provide the page number and category title).

Location:
Page 122
Category III: Goals and Objectives
29

FESSAM Scavenger Hunt

Find:
Criterion 5C
(provide the page number and criterion title).

Location:
Page 91
Public Education Program
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FESSAM at a Glance
Table of Contents By Pages
Emergency Vehicle Safety
Best Practice Self Assessment
6%
Glossary of Terms
5%

Accredited Agency Annual

Compliance Report
5%

5. Research and Information

Collection Guide
53%

1. Fire Service Accreditation

6%
2. Self Assessment Process
9%

3. Strategic Planning, Risk

Assessment, and Standards of
Response Coverage
15%

4. Categories and Criteria

9%

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