Elk Grove Village Fire Department earns top rating from insurance organization

The Elk Grove Village Fire Department has received the highest rating from the Insurance Services Office, placing it among the top 1% of all fire departments in the country, village officials said.

The ISO awarded the department with a Class 1 designation through its Public Protection Classification program, which assesses communities' fire protection efforts.

Of the more than 46,000 fire departments evaluated across the nation, only 498 - including 29 in Illinois - have achieved a Class 1 designation, according to the village. The department also is one of 118 agencies worldwide with both an ISO Class 1 and Accreditation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence.

The rating and fire department evaluation is based on factors such as the department's training, apparatus and response capabilities, as well as water supply, dispatch operations and fire prevention programs.

The new rating is available to insurance companies, which may use ISO information to establish insurance premiums for residential, commercial and industrial property insurance rates.