FORNEY, Texas — The City of Forney's Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating has improved from a Class 2 to a Class 1, the nation’s highest ranking, according to a letter from the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office received by the Forney Fire Department yesterday.
FORNEY, Texas — The City of Forney's Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating has improved from a Class 2 to a Class 1, the nation’s highest ranking, according to a letter from the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office received by the Forney Fire Department yesterday.
Only 180 fire departments nationwide and 52 in the state of Texas have achieved an ISO Class 1 rating, according to State Fire Marshal’s Office of Public Protection Classification (PPC) Oversight.
The new ISO rating will be effective January 1, 2018, and a representative from the state fire Marshall's office will appear before the city council later this year.
A communities ISO rating is based on many factors including the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule which grades the communities fire department equipment and manpower, fire alarm facilities and the department’s ability to receive and handle fire alarms, and the community's water supply and distribution systems.
In October 2012, Forney Fire Department Fire Marshall John Holcomb and Chief Rick Townsend announced a significant decrease in the ISO rating from Class 4 to a Class 2. At the time, Holcomb said the department would worked tirelessly to achieve a Class 1 rating.
Holcomb says some of the leading factors attributed to the improved ISO rating include the construction of a new fire station on the north side, new staffing, including the departments recent FEMA SAFER grant which allows for an additional six firefighters, a new radio system, implementation of CAFS (compressed air foam systems) systems on some of the department’s apparatus, and improved processes and training.