KWWL.com - News & Weather for Waterloo, Dubuque, Cedar Rapids & Iowa City, Iowa | Coralville Fire Department one of the best in the state

Coralville Fire Department one of the best in the state

Coralville (KWWL) -- The Coralville Fire Department is now one of the elite departments in the State of Iowa.

The city has learned that their public fire protection classification has been upgraded from a Class 4 to a Class 3 by the Insurance Services Office.

The ISO, a risk assessment firm, rates public fire protection on a scale fo 1 to 10.  Class 1 being the best possible rating and Class 10 meaning the fire suppression program doesn't meet minimum recognition criteria.

The rating is based on a fire-fighting equipment, training protocols, equipment maintenance, water supply and dispatching capabilities.

Coralville is now one of only 27 Iowa communities with a Class 3 rating.  Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and Marion also have Class 3 ratings.

There are no communities in Iowa that have achieved a Class 1 or Class 2 rating.

Insurance companies use the PPC classifications to set premiums for fire insurance, generally setting lower premiums in communities with a better rating.  The new Coralville rating could have a positive impact on insurance rates fro commercial and residential properties.

ISO generally surveys fire departments every 15 years, but Coralville Fire Chief Dave Stannard requested the re-evaluation because of improvements made since the last evaluation including the construction of the Coralville Fire Department Training Facility, training programs, staffing, and overall strengthened fire department management. 

Stannard also requested the ISO survey prior to the completion of the North Fire Station so that areas for improvement could be identified. 

The process takes approximately six to eight months.

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