The Glassy Mountain Fire Department (GMFD) announced last week they received notice from the Insurance Services Office Inc. (ISO) that their Fire Protection Classification has gone from an ISO Class 5 to an ISO Class 4 effective Feb. 1, 2014.

The ISO’s Public Protection Classification Program evaluates communities according to a uniform set of criteria defined in the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule.

The criteria incorporate nationally recognized standards developed by the National Fire Protection Association and the American Water Works Association.

“I’m extremely proud of the Glassy Mountain Fire Department personnel for accomplishing this ISO Class 4 rating,” said Bryan G. Riebe, Chief, GMFD.

Riebe said Glassy Mountain Fire Service Area team members range from retired corporate executives to Cadets in the program.

“The lowering of the Public Protection Classification rating indicates an improvement in the fire protection level and an appropriate water supply to protect the structures within a community. An improved rate can impact homeowners and commercial businesses directly by insurance policy rates,” said Dennis Geagan, chairman, Glassy Mountain Fire Service Area Board of Commissioners. “However, the average savings is dependent on many factors including type of construction, age and value of the structure, insurance carrier, and many other items. We encourage residents to check with their insurance carrier to request the new classification be included in their policy effective Feb. 1, 2014.”

Insurance Services Office (ISO) is an independent company that serves insurance companies, communities, fire departments, insurance regulators and others by providing information about risk.

ISO collects information on fire-protection efforts in communities throughout the United States.

In each of those communities, ISO analyzes the relevant data in three major areas: the fire department operations, water system, and communications, and then assigns a Public Protection Classification (PPC), a number from one to 10.

Class 1 represents an exemplary fire suppression program and Class 10 indicates that the area’s fire suppression program does not meet ISO’s minimum criteria.

– article submitted
by Sharyn Arnold