Waxahachie achieves Insurance Services Office Class 1 fire rating, city officials say

Waxahachie officials announced Monday that the city has earned an Insurance Services Office (ISO) Class 1 rating, the highest designation ISO grants for municipal fire-protection capability.

"We were able to achieve a class 1 rating," Fire Chief Ricky Boyd told the City Council, crediting months of record collection and work with consultants and multiple city departments. "It wouldn't be possible without all the hard work of our team members from the entire city."

Deborah Knight of the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office addressed the council and explained elements of the ISO review: fire department operations, water supply, emergency communications and fire prevention programs. She said the ISO scale is reported as a 1–10 classification with 1 being the best. Knight said fewer than 500 communities nationwide hold a Class 1 rating and roughly 100 communities in Texas do so; the chief said 412 communities nationwide currently had a Class 1 at the time of the presentation.

Council members and staff noted the rating can affect homeowners’ insurance premiums. "You should call your insurance company tomorrow morning and say my city now has an ISO 1, and that should reflect in ... your homeowner's insurance," one council speaker advised during the presentation.

City staff credited contributions from emergency communications, water-distribution staff and other departments for the rating. The council presented no formal vote on the announcement; the presentation and recognition were ceremonial acknowledgements of achievement.

The achievement follows a citywide review that included a consultancy engagement and multi‑department documentation, the chief said.