Conway Fire Department earns highest ISO rating

CFD one of 241 departments nationwide

The Conway Fire Department joined an elite class of public safety services after receiving the top insurance rating for fire agencies, an accomplishment Fire Chief Mike Winter said is the result of department-wide and city-wide efforts.

The Insurance Service Office (ISO) has upgraded the department’s protection rating from Class 2 to Class 1, placing Conway in the top 1% of fire departments in the United States.

The Class 1 rating may translate into commercial and residential insurance premium savings. Chief Winter encourages everyone to check in with their insurance agent to make sure they’re aware of the change.

To calculate Conway’s PPC grade, three elements of fire suppression features are reviewed. These elements included emergency communications, fire department, and water supply.

According to Chief Winter, the capability of Conway Corporation’s water distribution system coupled with their maintenance of the city’s fire hydrants contributed the most to the move from Class 2 to Class 1.

“When we needed something, they got it done,” said Chief Winter.

“For us it’s about pride in the work we do. Over the years, it’s been helpful to have the full support of the administration and from the people of Conway,” said Winter.“The men and women of the Conway Fire Department strive every day to exceed our own expectations. Maintaining our status as a Class 1 fire department will be a goal of ours moving forward.”

The Class 1 rating became effective June 1.

ISO is an independent company that serves insurance companies, communities, fire departments, insurance regulators, and others by providing information about risk. ISO’s staff collects information about municipal fire suppression efforts in communities throughout the United States. In each of these communities, ISO analyzes the relevant data and assigns a PPC grade – a number from 1 to 10. Class 1 represents an exemplary fire suppression program, and Class 10 indicates that the area’s fire suppression program does not meet ISO’s minimum criteria.

ISO’s PPC program evaluates communities according to a uniform set of criteria, incorporating national recognized standards developed by the National Fire Protection Association and the American Water Works Association.