The Administration group administers the day-to-day activities of the Fire Department as it interacts with the public, Town departments, other governmental agencies, and the media. Administration staff prepare and manage the annual budget and review and revise current service levels. Finally, the Administration group manages the Cary's Insurance Services Office (ISO) public protection rating and its international accreditation status through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International.

The Cary Fire Department is an ISO Class 1, internationally accredited fire department. The department improved its ISO rating from a Class 3 to a Class 1 in 2015 and maintained that rating at its last evaluation in 2020. It achieved its sixth accreditation in 2026.

 ISO

Insurance Services Office (ISO) collects information on municipal fire-protection efforts across the United States. In each of those communities, ISO analyzes the relevant data using its Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS). It then assigns a Public Protection Classification from 1 to 10. Class 1 generally represents superior property fire protection, and Class 10 indicates that the area's fire-suppression program doesn't meet ISO’s minimum criteria. The Cary Fire Department’s ISO rating is a Class 1.

By classifying communities' fire-suppression capabilities, ISO helps them evaluate their public fire-protection services. The program provides an objective, nationwide standard that helps fire departments plan and budget for facilities, equipment, and training. And by securing lower fire insurance premiums for communities with better public protection, the PPC program provides incentives and rewards for communities that choose to improve their firefighting services.

ISO has extensive information on more than 49,000 fire-response jurisdictions.

CFAI Accreditation

The Cary Fire Department is accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI). Accreditation is a comprehensive self-assessment and evaluation model that allows organizations to examine past, current, and future service levels and internal performance and compare them with industry best practices. This process leads to improved service delivery.

CFAI accreditation is an international recognition of achievement. Accredited agencies are often described as being community-oriented, data-driven, and outcome-focused. They exemplify strategic, well-organized, and properly equipped, staffed, and trained organizations. Accreditation shows that a department continually self-assesses, looks for opportunities for improvement, and is transparent and accountable through the application of a true third-party verification and validation process.

CFAI Accreditation Benefits

CFAI accreditation is an international recognition of achievement. Accredited agencies are often described as being community-oriented, data-driven, and outcome-focused. They exemplify strategic, well-organized, and properly equipped, staffed, and trained organizations. Accreditation shows that a department continually self-assesses, looks for opportunities for improvement, and is transparent and accountable through the application of a true third-party verification and validation process.