Prospect Heights Fire District receives ISO Class 2
The Prospect Heights Fire Protection District was upgraded to a Class 2 rating from the Insurance Service Office, which reviews how departments respond to emergencies. The Class 2 rating takes effect March 1, 2019.
The rating places the Prospect Heights Fire Protection District within the top 6 percent of fire departments within Illinois. This was achieved without additional cost to the taxpayer. The rating since 2012 was a Class 3. Between 1986 and 2012, the rating rose from 9 to 6 to 4.
On Feb. 12, the Insurance Service Office notified the Prospect Heights Fire Protection District of their desire to visit Prospect Heights in the summer to gather and verify data to be used in their evaluation and grading process. Insurance Service Office visited on July 11, and the department received correspondence on Nov. 27 that the Public Protection Classification was a Class 2 rating.
In the weeks and months prior to July 11, the Prospect Heights Fire Protection District command staff spent countless hours preparing reports and supporting documentation in excess of 900 pages.
The Insurance Service Office grading process evaluates three main areas totaling 105.5 points:
• Emergency Communications (9-1-1): 10 points
• Water Supply: 40 points
• Fire Department: 50 points
• Community Risk Reduction (prevention): 5.5 points
The Prospect Heights Fire Protection District achieved 80.06 points to receive their Class 2 rating.
RED Center, the Prospect Heights Fire Protection District's dispatching agency that processes emergency calls, received a perfect score of 10 points out of 10. This affirmed the value of a strong, regional partnership that has existed since 1981.
"Without the support of the Prospect Heights Fire Protection District board of trustees and the hard work of our command staff and other members prior to Insurance Service Office's July visit, we could not have effectively responded to this process. I thank each and every one of them for their commitment to our citizens," said Fire Chief Drew Smith.
What does this mean for our residents?
Some property insurance companies use the Insurance Service Office classification in determining insurance premiums. Chief Smith encourages residents and businesses to contact their insurance provider to determine if there may be a reduction in their fire insurance premium once the Class 2 rating takes effect March 1, 2019.
Of the 42,083 fire departments in the USA graded by Insurance Service Office, 329 are a Class 1 and 1,545 are a Class 2. That places the Prospect Heights Fire Protection District in the top 4 percent nationwide.
Of the 1,905 fire departments in Illinois graded by Insurance Service Office, 19 are a Class 1 and 98 are a Class 2. That places the Prospect Heights Fire Protection District in the top 6 percent statewide.
For information, visit www.isomitigation.com/ppc/program-works/facts-and-figures-about-ppc-codes-around-the-country.