Apalachin Fire Dept Earns Improved Public Protection Rating

Your Insurance Premium/Policy Could Be Affected

The Apalachin Fire Department has earned an improved Public Protection Classification (rating) with the Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO). This rating reflects the level of fire protection in Apalachin. ISO grades each community on its ability to fight fires and assigns a rating from 1 to 10, with 10 representing less than the minimum recognized protection. ISO uses two numbers to represent the classification. The first number represents properties that are both within 1000 feet of a fire hydrant, and five miles of a fire station. The property will also need a fire flow of 3500 gallons per minute or less. The second number represents properties within five miles of a fire station, but are over 1000 feet from a fire hydrant.

On August 12, 1998, ISO met with Apalachin Fire Chief Anthony Quaranta and Fire Commissioner Will Roden and Jack Klapprodt to review its public protection classification.

To determine the new rating, ISO looked at three factors: receiving and handling of a fire alarm (dispatching), the fire department itself, and the water supply from the hydrants.

Beginning January 1, 1999, the Apalachin Fire Department's classification under ISO has improved from 5/9 to 4/9. The change to 4/9 will affect properties to different degrees. Insurance policy holders should contact their insurance agents or companies to determine the effect this change in classification will have on their premiums and policies.

Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO) is the leading supplier of statistical, actuarial, and underwriting

information for and about the property/casualty insurance industry. ISO provides advisory services to more than 1,500 participating insurers and their agents. The company is licensed to perform these services throughout the United States, including Puerto Rico. ISO has extensive information on more than 22,000 municipalities throughout the United States. They collect data on such variables as water supply and distribution systems, fire alarm receiving and dispatching procedures, fire-fighting equipment, personnel training and manning levels of the engine and ladder service companies, and needed fire flow. They also offer public protection reports describing a municipality's water system, fire department, fire alarm system, results of fire flow test, and fire company locations. ISO maintains one of the largest private data bases in the world. The Apalachin Fire Department would like to thank everyone who helped in the effort to make Apalachin a safer place.


©1998 Apalachin Community Press