Wake Forest Fire Department earns ISO 1 rating

NC Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey appeared before the Board of Commissioners Tuesday to announce that the Wake Forest Fire Department has earned a Class 1 Public Protection Classification rating by the Insurance Services Office (ISO).

The ISO program measures and evaluates the effectiveness of fire mitigation services in communities throughout the country. Ratings are the result of an audit conducted by the ISO of the fire department’s firefighting capabilities, equipment, training, and equipment testing along with 911 communications and water line supply and availability to fire hydrants.

For each fire protection area, ISO assigns a Public Protection Classification code between 1 to 10, with Class 1 representing the highest possible fire protection.

The classification is used by insurance companies to set rates and is expected to specifically help commercial businesses with an approximate 2% savings on insurance. The rating bodes well for economic development, as many large companies consider this rating as a factor in determining location.

“It’s an honor to achieve this elite rating,” said Fire Chief Ron Early. “The dedicated men and women of the Wake Forest Fire Department work hard every day to ensure our department meets the highest standards to protect our residents and businesses.  We are thankful for the support we receive from the Town’s administration and other departments as we all strive to provide the best possible service to our residents.”

Wake Forest is now one of only 18 communities out of 1,220 in North Carolina with a fire department to have earned a Class 1 designation. For more information, email Chief Early at [email protected].