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Lincoln fire department announces ISO PPC Class 2 ranking, effective Jan. 1, 2025
Summary
City fire leadership announced that Lincoln's Insurance Services Office Public Protection Classification (PPC) will be upgraded to Class 2 effective Jan. 1, 2025, after staffing increases, hydrant inspections, mutual-aid agreements and dispatch improvements; staff said residents and businesses may see lower property-insurance costs depending on carriers.
The Lincoln Fire Department will be rated ISO Public Protection Classification (PPC) Class 2 effective Jan. 1, 2025, a staff presentation to the City Council said. The change follows staffing increases, expanded mutual-aid agreements, a hydrant-inspection program and upgrades to dispatch technology.
The PPC rating is produced by the Insurance Services Office and evaluates three components: fire department capabilities, water-supply capacity and emergency communications. A lower PPC score denotes stronger public protection; Lincoln's previous classification, from a 2019 study, had been Class 4.
"Effective as January 1 of 2025, the Lincoln Fire Department is now going to be rated as an ISO PPC 2," the department presenter said during the council meeting. The presenter credited a citywide effort including the fire department, water operations, dispatch and mutual-aid partners for the improvement.
City staff said the department increased staffing by hiring nine firefighters to move to three-person engine staffing, expanded training and bolstered mutual-aid contracts. The water department implemented a hydrant inspection program this year, and dispatch services upgraded personnel and technology, staff said.
Mayor Carlson and councilmembers responded with praise. Councilmember (unnamed) said the classification provides a tangible metric residents can understand, and another councilmember asked staff to attempt to quantify likely premium savings for typical homeowners.
City staff said insurers weigh ISO ratings differently and proposed sampling community members' insurance bills across multiple years to estimate potential savings rather than providing a single citywide number. The council did not take formal action; the presentation was informational.
What happens next: staff said the classification will be reflected to insurers beginning Jan. 1, 2025; any change in premiums will depend on individual insurance carriers. The city plans community outreach to help residents understand the change and may sample insurance bills to estimate an average reduction.
