Mowbray Volunteer Fire Department was notified that its fire protection rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO), a national insurance industry risk rating and assessment service inspection , will improve Aug. 1 to a Class 4. This change not only means the department’s level of fire protection service has improved, according to ISO analysis, but it could also earn lower property insurance rates for home and business owners on Mowbray Mountain. With the update, the department’s rating drops from its previous Class 9 rating.
ISO rates fire departments on a scale of 1 to 10. An ISO Class rating is considered the least effective fire defense class 10 while an ISO class 1 rating is the most effective fire defensive system from an insurance analysis perspective. ISO ratings play an important role in the underwriting process at insurance companies.
“The news of Mowbray Volunteer Fire Department’s lower rating is exciting for the county, as well as all the fire personnel at the fire station, said Mowbray Fire Chief, Chris Weddington. This was not an overnight task, as Mowbray VFD personnel had to work hard to keep up their standards, changes with operating procedures and update information on all areas of fire protection in their district”.
ISO officials look at the 9-1-1 system, the water system as relates to hydrants and many other factors involved in providing quality fire and rescue service. Countless hours went into getting ready for the inspection, said Weddington.
Mowbray Volunteer Fire Department covers 33 square-miles and responds to 20 medical/fire calls a month. Last ISO inspection was in 1981.