Elgin Fire Department rating might lower your insurance rates

Property owners in Elgin can expect to save on their insurance payments after the city's fire department was rated in the top 2 percent in the nation for its ability to respond to fires, city officials said.

The Elgin Fire Department was bumped up to a Class 2 rating for public protection from the national Insurance Service Office. The rating is effective Oct. 1.

"That rating may not mean much to the lay person, but it's a very, very tough rating to get," Fire Chief John Fahy told the city council Wednesday night. "I smiled when I got this letter Monday morning because chiefs don't very often in their career get to move up that ISO ladder."

The city had a Class 3 rating for the last 20 years. Fahy credited his fellow firemen, along with senior city staff members, with playing a crucial role in attaining the higher rating.

The evaluation process includes, for example, an analysis of the city's code of ordinances, such as the sprinkler ordinance, and how they are applied, he explained. "This is much more than a fire department award," he said. "It goes to the whole city."

Councilman Rich Dunne, a former fire marshal in Elgin, called it "a huge accomplishment." He also said the new rating should result in significant savings to the businesses and slight savings to residents.

Elgin is among 917 communities nationwide receiving a Class 2 rating this year from ISO, which evaluated nearly 49,000. Only 97 communities got a Class 1 rating. The rankings range from Class 1 to Class 10.

In Illinois, 71 communities have a Class 2 rating, while only 3 communities got a Class 1 rating from ISO, according to documents provided by the city.

ISO's review also includes an evaluation of the code department, dispatch operations and water operations, city officials said.

"Insurance companies use the ISO classifications to establish premiums for both commercial and residential property policies, with a better rating resulting in a lower insurance rate and cost of insurance," Fahy said.

City Manager Sean Stegall praised firefighters' performance and the professionalism of the city's administrative team. "It is a significant accomplishment that the entire city will benefit from now and in the future," he said.