Schaumburg Fire Department receives top rating from insurance group

For the first time in its history, the Schaumburg Fire Department has been awarded a Class 1 Public Protection Classification rating from the Insurance Services Office.

The Class 1 rating, the highest that can be achieved, demonstrates the department’s ability to provide the best in emergency response and community risk reduction, officials said.

The department is now one of 28 in Illinois to receive the rating, and one of just six with both an ISO 1 rating and accreditation status with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International.

“An ISO 1 rating has long been a symbol of excellence in the fire service across the country, and I’m proud of the collaborative effort that was undertaken by several departments and agencies to assist the fire department in achieving this classification,” Schaumburg Fire Chief Jim Walters said in a statement. “Schaumburg has a long tradition of providing outstanding fire protection to our citizens, and we’ll continue to look for ways in which we can improve the services we provide.”

The rating is sometimes used by insurance companies to calculate premium rates. Higher classification ratings may have the potential to lower insurance premiums, primarily for businesses but possibly homes as well.