A recent inspection and survey by the Insurance Services Offices, Inc. (ISO) has resulted in Las Vegas Fire & Rescue maintaining its ISO Class One rating.  The city’s fire department was the first entity in the state of Nevada to attain a Class One rating and has maintained it since 1990. ISO came in and graded the department during 2009 and this week the department received its official notice that it will remain a Class One department.

The fire department maintains its ISO rating even with the department recently experiencing budget cuts, as the city deals with a $400 million shortfall over the next five years. The recent cuts that were made by the fire chief were taken into account by ISO during the review process, and did not affect the city’s rating. A city must score a 90 percent or above on a number of variables to receive a Class One rating, a threshold that Las Vegas Fire & Rescue met.

“With the recent budget cuts, the response services the public has come to expect on a daily basis have not been affected,” said Fire Chief Greg Gammon. “This positive rating is affirmation that even with budget challenges and reductions in service, our department will continue to be one of the best in the nation.”

ISO is used by insurance companies, both residential and commercial, to determine insurance premiums on properties. The Public Protection Classification is divided into ten classes: Class Ten means there is no protection available, and it is the highest risk.  The more protection a community provides the lower the class rating.  ISO Class One is the best rating on the survey, meaning the least risk. However, insurance rates would not necessarily increase if the city were to drop from a Class One to a lower rating. For example, not all insurance companies use the ISO rating system to determine rates for customers.

According to the ISO Web site, of the 44,000 communities surveyed by ISO, 60 have obtained a Class One rating; three are in the state of Nevada.

In addition to being a Class One community, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue is also accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI).  Accreditation is accomplished by a comprehensive inspection of the fire department by members of the fire service from other fire departments and organizations.  Less than 10 departments have obtained an ISO Class One rating and are accredited by CFAI.