Sioux Falls, SD (KELO AM) - The City of Sioux Falls has been notified by the Insurance Service Office (ISO) that the fire protection rating for Sioux Falls Fire Rescue will be improving to a Class 2. ISO evaluates more than 48,000 fire departments, and fewer than 1,000, or only 2 percent, have received a Class 2 rating.
The ratings are based on a score that looks at the fire department, its personnel, equipment, deployment, and training, as well as the city’s Public Works water distribution system and the dispatching center at Metro Communications (911). A Class 1 generally represents superior property fire protection, and Class 10 indicates that the area’s fire-suppression program doesn’t meet ISO’s minimum criteria.
By classifying communities’ ability to suppress fires, ISO provides an objective, countrywide standard that helps fire departments in planning and budgeting for facilities, equipment, and training.
“Statistical data on insurance losses bears out the relationship between excellent fire protection—as measured by the ISO program—and low fire losses,” says Fire Chief Jim Sideras. “The prospect of potentially saving lives was a great incentive for us to improve our classification.”
This also helps Sioux Falls residents in securing lower fire insurance premiums. In comparing to other cities with an ISO 2 in comparable size to Sioux Falls, they saw a yearly insurance saving to residents of $2 million to $3 million yearly. Sideras says, “We will not likely see a lowering of insurance premiums for two years because of the significant hail storms. However, we plan today for the better tomorrow.”
Sioux Falls Fire Rescue has held a Class 3 rating since 1990 but will now be a Class 2 department effective September 2015.
“To achieve this Class 2 rating is truly a testament to the continued hard work of the members of Sioux Falls Fire Rescue,” Chief Jim Sideras said. “Whether in training, responding to emergencies, or efforts in fire prevention, the push for excellence by our members is something that makes our department one of the best in the country. To say that Sioux Falls Fire Rescue is in the top 2 percent of fire departments in the country is truly humbling. It is a testament to the dedication of the men and women of Sioux Falls Fire Rescue.”