The Columbus Fire Department has received an improved public protection classification rating.

Capt. Mike Wilson, department spokesman, says that the CFD recently participated in an Insurance Service Organization/Public Protection Classification survey. He explains that ISO has completed its analysis of the structural fire protection delivery system for the city of Columbus, resulting in an elevated public protection classification from a Class 4 rating to a Class 3 rating.

Wilson says that the Insurance Service Organization collects information about municipal fire protection efforts in communities throughout the United States. In each of those communities, ISO analyzes the relevant data and assigns a Public Protection Classification: a number from 1 to 10. Class 1 generally represents superior property fire protection, and Class 10 indicates that the area’s fire suppression program does not meet ISO’s minimum criteria.

Wilson says that the city’s rating improvement has placed the Columbus Fire Department into the top 10-percent of fire departments in the nation, and the top four-percent of fire departments in the state.

“Achieving this benchmark was a collaborative effort by the Columbus City Utilities, Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center, and the Columbus Fire Department,” says Fire Chief Mike Compton. “What the rating really reflects is the City’s dedication toward public safety.”

Wilson explains that a large number of insurers of homes and business property use ISO’s Public Protection Classifications in calculating premiums. In general, he says that the price of fire insurance in a community with a good PPC is substantially lower than in a community with a poor PPC, assuming all other factors are equal. Wilson notes that the city’s improved ISO rating may provide insurance cost savings to residents and business properties.