Orange Beach Fire Rescue has achieved a rare and prestigious honor. City officials have learned that the department’s ambulance service is now fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS). That makes Orange Beach just the third fire department in Alabama and the sixth transport agency, when including private services, to earn the designation. 

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Other’s receiving the honor include: HH Health System Emergency Medical Services, Huntsville; Mobile Fire-Rescue Department, Mobile; Montgomery Fire Rescue, Montgomery; NorthStar Emergency Medical Services, Inc., Tuscaloosa; and Regional Paramedical Services, Inc., Jasper. 

Fire Chief Jeff Smith shared the news during Tuesday's City Council meeting.

“We started the process probably a year ago,” Smith said. “It was a pretty intensive paperwork process.”

The CAAS accreditation is considered the gold standard in EMS and transport services. Agencies must meet strict national standards and pass a detailed site review. Chief Smith praised his staff and city departments for helping meet those requirements.

“I want to thank Ford, and HR, Michelle and Vicki,” he said. “They helped tremendously with the site visit.”

Division Chief Jeremy White led the effort and was recognized for assembling the extensive documentation needed for approval.

“He did an outstanding job putting all the paperwork together,” Smith said. “It was pretty intense when they came and did their site visit. They interviewed staff, went to 911, and talked to our receiving facilities.”

Smith said the recognition confirms what residents already know.

“We know we provide a good service, but this proves that we do.”

In addition to the accreditation, the department also received a grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation to buy a new Lucas device for the city’s Surf Rescue Division. The device provides automatic chest compressions during CPR, delivering consistent results that manual efforts can’t match.

“When you have a patient in cardiac arrest, a drowning victim, a person doesn’t have to do the chest compressions—the device does it,” Smith explained. “Correct depth, correct rate. It creates perfect chest compressions when performing CPR.”

Orange Beach fire trucks have had the devices for years, and the chief says they’ve made a clear impact.

“We’ve seen a drastic increase in resuscitations by using that device,” he said. “It doesn’t get tired. Firefighters do.”

The $18,000 grant covers the cost of the device, which will now be available for emergencies on the beach.

City officials and council members congratulated the department and its staff on their ongoing work to improve safety and health outcomes for Orange Beach residents and visitors.