Con Fire’s Regional Fire Communications Center Named 311th Accredited Center of Excellence Worldwide by International Academies of Emergency Dispatch®
CONCORD, CALIF. – Contra Costa County Fire Protection District today announced its Contra Costa Regional Fire Communications Center has earned accreditation by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch for excellence in medical dispatching.
Con Fire’s regional fire dispatch center is now the 311th such communications center worldwide to earn this distinction certifying that the center is performing at or above the established standards for the industry. Centers earning ACE status are the embodiment of dispatch done right, according to IAED, and have demonstrated strong local oversight, rigorous quality processes, and a commitment to data-driven continuous improvement.
In addition to assuring the community they are receiving world-class emergency medical dispatch when dialing 911 in most of Contra Costa County, accreditation is expected to lead to development of alternate emergency medical service deployment models that will further enhance and improve such services to the communities Con Fire serves.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment for our communications division and, most especially its dispatchers, with far reaching and positive implications for our residents,” said Lewis Broschard, fire chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. “Combined with our unique ambulance transport Alliance, accreditation sets the stage for additional improvements to EMS that can further enhance service, and survivability, for our residents.”
“I am pleased to share the news that Con Fire is now the 311th dispatch center to earn International Academy of Emergency Dispatch, Accredited Center of Excellence status worldwide,” said Jeff Peter, assistant chief for communications, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. “This is a major accomplishment and puts the CCRFCC and its amazing dispatchers among the most elite of communications centers. Our new ACE certified status would not be possible without the daily great performance and dedication of our dispatchers.”
“Accreditation is truly a pinnacle achievement,” said Christof Chwojka, accreditation board chair at IAED. “We applaud the dedicated call takers, dispatchers, and leadership team at Con Fire for their commitment to quality, and for meeting that high standard that few achieve. We know their community can count on these first, first responders to do an outstanding job.”
With emergency medical dispatch accreditation, Con Fire, already a provider of industry-leading emergency medical services, is now positioned to explore non-traditional EMS delivery models to further improve service. These may include opportunities to implement Basic Life Support ambulances for lower acuity calls, freeing up paramedic-staffed Advanced Life Support ambulances for more serious emergency calls.
The Con Fire ambulance transport Alliance is a public-private model with Con Fire acting as the contractor for all emergency ambulance services in the county, less the Moraga-Orinda and San Ramon Valley fire districts. Con Fire exercises oversight of all aspects of emergency medical response from initial call, through call screening and triage, to dispatch, response coordination, arrival at the patient’s side, delivery of on-scene care, and transport to an appropriate medical facility.
In place since 2016, the unique Alliance model places the singular interest on public safety with the program goal to provide the very best response time possible to our customers through a combination of fire- and sub-contractor AMR-provided emergency medical services. The Alliance system of firefighter paramedics, emergency medical service providers, and ambulance transport gets to patients with potentially life threatening illnesses and injuries faster and transports them to hospital more quickly, affording them the best possible chance for a positive outcome.
“This process is undertaken by communications centers who desire to be the best of the best,” explains Kim Rigden, associate director of accreditation, IAED. “Achieving ACE confirms it. Con Fire should be very proud of this achievement and the wonderful service they provide to the community and their emergency responders.”
IAED will present Con Fire with an accreditation plaque that commemorates their achievement. IAED Accreditation is the culmination of a lengthy, arduous process that includes the completion of a detailed evaluation of performance by industry experts, and a final review and ruling by IAED.
About Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) – With annexation of the former East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) in July, 2022, 
Con Fire now provides fire and emergency medical services to more than 750,000 residents in 11 cities and 10 unincorporated areas across our expanded 553 square-mile jurisdiction. Annexation resulted in absorption of the resources and people of the former ECCFPD, adding 294 square miles of service area.
The District now comprises 30 fire stations and nearly 500 employees. Through our unique ambulance Alliance, the District delivers EMS and ambulance transport services to much of Contra Costa County. In 2021, the District responded to some 83,000 incidents of all types, including nearly 43,000 fire and EMS emergencies, and dispatched 100,000 ambulances, conducting more than 75,000 ambulance transports. Con Fire remains dedicated to preserving life, property, and the environment.
About IAED – For more than 40 years, the IAED has been the standard-setting organization for emergency dispatch and response services worldwide, and is the leading body of emergency dispatch experts. We are a member-driven association working to serve the public through the professional development of dispatchers. Our various boards and councils work on behalf of the membership—and in coordination with other public safety organizations—to ensure that the comprehensive system of emergency dispatching is as safe, fast, effective, and up-to-date as possible.
