By Carter Hall, CSFD Public Information Officer
Everyone likes to be No. 1, especially in a sports-crazed town such as College Station. But in some cases, being No. 1 means much more than bragging rights with your rivals.
Take College Station’s new Class 1 ISO fire rating, which is effective Monday.
The Insurance Service Office (ISO) classifies communities on a scale of 1 to 10. Those that earn the Class 1 demonstrate the best systems for water distribution, fire department equipment, firefighting personnel, and dispatch facilities.
The College Station Fire Department is one of only seven in Texas to have both a Class 1 ISO rating and international accreditation through the Center for Public Safety Excellence. Even more impressive is that fewer than one percent of the 47,500 fire protection areas in the United States are ISO Class 1.
The new rating also means you may pay less to insure your home or business. Most U.S. property insurers use ISO’s Public Protection Classification program to calculate premiums, which are generally lower in communities with a high rating. Contact your insurer to see if the change might affect your premiums.
College Station Fire Chief Jonathan McMahan recognizes the importance of reaching this milestone. “Becoming an ISO Class 1 community was one of my top strategic initiatives when I became the fire chief in early 2017,” he said. “Having this designation demonstrates the city’s ongoing commitment to providing excellent fire protection for our residents.”
Chief McMahan also recognizes Water Services’ David Coleman, Gary Mechler, and Stephen Maldonado, Jr., along with Robert Radtke of Public Safety Communications, — and their teams — for their hard work in achieving the improved rating. The achievement ties together the credibility of our fire, water, and communication departments and makes College Station an even more attractive community for businesses and families.
Key elements considered by ISO were:
- Response capability, which consists of the staffing of fire service personnel on engine and ladder companies.
- Fire station distribution, including location and coverage area.
- Adequate and appropriate apparatus and equipment.
- Fire department training.
- Fire department organizational structure.
ISO then evaluated the city’s water supply and distribution system, public safety communications, and fire prevention codes and enforcement.
Representatives from the Insurance Services Office and the Texas Fire Marshal’s Office will officially present College Station with its Class 1 ISO rating at Thursday’s city council meeting.
About the Blogger
Carter Hall has been a College Station firefighter since 2011. He earned a degree in leadership development from Texas A&M in 2005.
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