DALTON, Mass. — Fire Chief Christian Tobin has earned his accreditation through the state Fire Service Commission. 

 

The announcement was made during a Board of Water Commissioners meeting in April. 

 

"It is not an easy thing to do in the short time that he has been here, and the district is appreciative of everything he has done thus far for the department," to Prudential Committee Chair Daniel Filiault said during the meeting.

 

The state Fire Service Commission is a gubernatorial-appointed board that has established a process for uniform credentialing for fire chiefs 

 

During this process, Tobin had to submit several documents to the commission, including a resume that outlined his years of service, progression within the fire service structure, attendance at training and professional development courses,

 

It also required the submission of formal education achievements and participation in state and national certification programs.

 

This information was applied to a scoring matrix that assigned a point value to the various levels of accomplishment submitted by the candidate.

 

The applicant is awarded the fire chief credential upon reaching or surpassing the established minimum score. 

 

This credential signifies that the applicant has worked hard to acquire the specialized knowledge and skills required to be an effective leader in the fire service.

 

To keep this accreditation valid, Tobin must participate in recurring training and professional development programs approved by the Fire Service Commission and submit proof of completion every three years.

 

The Fire Chief Credentialing Program intends to compare the local officials' training and educational achievements to an established standard with a third-party evaluation

 

The state Fire Service Commission stated in its release that it believes that this process will assist communities' fire service leaders in facing the challenges ahead and ensuring that the fire service across the Commonwealth continues to provide the most effective fire, emergency medical, and rescue services that residents have come to expect.

 

The program is open to all members of the fire service in the commonwealth holding the rank

of lieutenant or above in a Fire Department.