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Fort Atkinson Fire Department earns ISO Class 2 rating, city leaders say residents could see lower insurance premiums
Summary
Fire Chief Pearson announced the department’s upgrade from ISO Class 3 to Class 2, a designation held by fewer than 5% of U.S. departments; officials said the rating reflects cross-department coordination and could reduce insurance costs for property owners.
Fire Chief Pearson announced Tuesday that the Fort Atkinson Fire Department has been reclassified to an ISO Class 2 fire protection rating, an upgrade from its previous Class 3. The Insurance Services Office (ISO) assigns public protection classifications from 1 (best) to 10; fewer than 5% of U.S. departments hold a Class 2 rating, Chief Pearson said.
Chief Pearson told the City Council the ISO evaluation reviewed the fire department’s staffing, training, response times and apparatus readiness, and also examined the city’s water supply and emergency communications. He praised coordination with the water utility and the emergency communications center and singled out Captain Mike Lawson for leading the documentation process required by the audit.
Officials said the new rating may lead insurance companies to lower premiums for homes and businesses — staff said insurers can use ISO ratings as a factor when setting fire-protection portions of property premiums and that reductions of as much as 10% are possible for some properties. Chief Pearson and council members emphasized the designation as recognition of long-term investments in public safety rather than a single-person achievement.
The council applauded the department; Chief Pearson said staff will add an ISO Class 2 decal to apparatus and roll out public communications describing the designation and its potential implications for residents and businesses.
