By Tim Schmidt Record Managing Editor The Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating — which helps set insurance rates at businesses and homes — has dropped in some areas within the Wright City Fire Protection District, according to officials. The ISO rating was reduced from a 6 to a 4 for properties within five miles of a fire station and within 1,000 feet of a fire hydrant or alternate water supply. The rating dropped from a 9 to 8B for those properties located beyond 1,000 feet from a fire hydrant but within five miles of a fire station. The new rating went into effect on May 1, Fire Chief Ron MacKnight said. “It’s exciting news,” he said. “We anticipate a savings for a segment of our population. It basically says the fire department is improving and is improving the protection for our citizens.” The ISO rating is awarded based on a number of factors that determine how quickly a fire can be extinguished in a particular area. The fire district received 59.31 points out of a possible 100. The rating is determined based on three parameters: dispatch and communications (10 points), fire department (50 points), and water supply (40 points). Some of the areas where the district received points for were for the number of 911 dispatchers on duty; the types and sizes of fire apparatus; personnel training; and fire hydrant size, testing and inspections. The district also received points because it had adopted updated fire codes, MacKnight said. The fire district’s ISO rating was last evaluated in 1997, according to MacKnight. At that time, the district was manned by only volunteers. Today, the district employs nine employees, including six firefighters, a chief, deputy chief and administrative assistant. The district switched to 24/7 coverage in 2011. The district encompasses approximately 92 square miles in the northeast portion of Warren County and southern portion of Lincoln County. “We’re looking forward to the next three to five years and see where we can improve on each level,” MacKnight said. MacKnight said property owners residing within the fire district are encouraged to check with their insurance companies to see if the ISO changes will affect the cost of their insurance. Many insurance companies use the ISO rating as part of their formula for calculating insurance premiums, he said.
Wright City fire district
