In early 2015, Woodstock Fire Department was notified that it had received a rating of Class 1 from the Insurance Services Offices (ISO), giving it the highest possible score a fire department can achieve. The new ISO rating will take effect April 1, 2015. The new rating should help citizens and businesses receive a reduction in their insurance premiums.
“I am extremely proud of our team. I think this speaks volumes about the level of commitment our department has to the citizens and businesses in Woodstock,” said Fire Chief Dave Soumas. Mayor Donnie Henriques added, “Public Safety is the primary mission of local government and we are extremely pleased that the hard work of the men and women of the Woodstock Fire Department have been recognized with this rating.”
ISO grades fire departments nationwide in three major areas – 911 communications, area water supply and the fire department itself. Number of personnel, equipment, training, fire safety education and location of fire stations are among the fire specific criteria that are reviewed as part of the process to help rate the department.
Each of the three categories is then broken down and points are awarded in each area to produce a rating. The ratings range from 1-10, with a Class 10 being a non-existent department to a Class 1 which represents superior fire departments.
Only 100 other agencies nationwide have received an ISO rating of Class 1, out of approximately 50,000 who have been evaluated by ISO. Additionally, Woodstock Fire Department joins with only 6 other agencies in the State of Georgia to receive a rating of Class 1. Woodstock Fire Department jumped from its previous rating of Class 3 due to newly established programs such as community outreach/fire prevention and arson investigation.
To help establish appropriate fire insurance premiums for residential and commercial properties, insurance companies need reliable, up-to-date information about a community’s fire-protection services. ISO provides that information through the Public Protection Classification (PPC™) program which establishes the ratings for departments.
The program provides an objective nationwide standard, which helps fire departments in planning and budgeting for facilities, equipment and training. By securing lower fire insurance premiums for communities with better public protection, the PPC program provides incentives and rewards for departments that choose to improve their firefighting services.
Chief Soumas said the new rating took a collaborative effort from Public Works Department, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), as well as the support and guidance from the City Manager, Mayor and Council. For more information on ISO ratings, visit ISOMitigation.com. For more information on Woodstock’s ISO rating, please call 770-592-6000 ext. 1840.
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