Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Houston County Fire Department improves ISO rating from 4 to 3, county officials say
Summary
Chief Stoner told commissioners the county's fire department improved its ISO Public Protection Classification from 4 to 3, effective June 1, reflecting multi-year performance and potentially affecting insurance considerations for county residents.
Houston County's fire department has improved its Insurance Services Office (ISO) Public Protection Classification from a 4 to a 3, Chief Stoner announced during the board meeting.
Chief Stoner said the department's classification improved after a review covering three years of data and that the change takes effect June 1. "We got our most recent ISO public protection classification rating back and we've improved from a 4 to a 3," he said, adding that the department is still a combination department with both paid and volunteer personnel. He called the change "a tremendous feat" and said it places the department in roughly the top 15% of graded departments nationwide.
The chief told the board the audit covers many aspects of service provision and noted that while the county cannot guarantee insurance savings, insurers often use ISO ratings as a factor when setting homeowners' and business insurance rates. He asked residents in unincorporated areas to check with their insurance providers when their policies renew to see whether the new rating affects their premiums.
Commissioners congratulated the fire department staff and thanked the board for support that contributed to the improved rating through personnel, equipment and infrastructure investments. No board action was required; this was an informational report to the commission.
