Pontiac/Price Place VFD lowers ISO rating
by Jabet Wade - Special to the Times
Members of the Pontiac/Price Place Volunteer Fire Department were ecstatic to learn last Tuesday that they lowered their ISO rating from a 9 to a 5, which makes them the lowest rated volunteer fire department in Ozark County.
The ISO collects and analyzes information relating to an individual fire department’s ability to respond to calls in their district, then assigns a Public Protection Classification (PPC) from 1 to 10 — 1 being the best and 10 the worst.
In Missouri, the only department with a Class 1 designation is the St. Louis fire department. Only seven departments in Missouri have a Class 2 designation, including Springfield and Columbia. In Ozark County, the only department with a better rating than a 9 is Gainesville, which is a 7. Nearby Oakland/Promise Land volunteer fire department is a 6.
A couple of the members I spoke to said they would have been thrilled with a 6, and many expected to receive a 7. They never dreamed it would go as low as a 5.
For the better part of this decade, the PPPVFD has tossed around the idea of trying to lower its ISO rating, in an effort to help its members save money. Board chairman Bob Kirgan says the biggest hang-up was always equipment. One of the ISO requirements they would have to meet before a lower rating would even be considered is the ability to pump 250 gallons of water per minute for two hours. That wasn’t possible until last May, when the department acquired a high-volume pump that would allow them to quickly refill the fire trucks.
After months of practicing, the PPPVFD was tested in October. Volunteer firefighters ran through drills that demonstrated their ability to work as a team, handle equipment and refill tankers to keep a continuous supply of water flowing at a staged “fire.” Now, five months later, they finally have the results.
On the heels of recent devastating fires in Ozark County, including the one that destroyed the home of Tom and Mary Cline, of Pontiac, the department wants to be sensitive about this announcement. They want their members to understand the purpose of lowering the rating is not for bragging rights for the department, but rather to help its members save money. The PPPVFD is still a rural, volunteer fire department, and responding to and putting out fires will always be a more difficult task than it is in districts with full-time firefighters.
The Pontiac-Price Place Volunteer Fire Department recently qualified for an ISO rating of 5, the lowest in the county, after the department and their equipment was tested in October.
So, how will the lower rating help members save money?
Many insurance companies factor in ISO ratings when calculating premiums for their policy holders. Therefore, a lower rating should translate to lower premiums for most members, depending on the company and individual policies.
A couple members have already called their agents to find out how much the lower rating will save them in the future. Roger and Debbie Lee learned they are going to save about $200 yearly, while Kirgan says he is going to save about $275.
Marlin Wallace, American Family insurance agent, says a Class 5 designation should lower rates for American Family customers by about one-third.
While most members will likely see a decrease in their insurance rates, it is important to note that not all insurance companies factor in the ISO rating. The ISO simply evaluates risk and offers their findings to the companies; each individual company chooses how or whether to use the information.
The new rating will take effect July 1. In the meantime, the PPPVFD is preparing and will mail a formal letter to all members who have paid their dues. Members are encouraged to present the letter to their insurance agents and request a lower rate.
The PPPVFD would like to thank all the local fire departments in Missouri and Arkansas that assisted with equipment, manpower and record-keeping during this process. They’d also like to thank the Pontiac Ladies Club and the Pontiac and Price Place communities for their continued support of the fire department. “The PPPVFD is totally dependent on member participation,” says training officer Al Davidson. “These dues-paying members will now see a return on their investment.”
For more information on the ISO rating and the PPPVFD, call fire chief Bill Richardson at 679-4674 or Kirgan at 679-3432. Or, visit iso.com.
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