WILMINGTON – The Wilmington Fire Department has been officially recognized as a Class I service by the Insurance Services Office (ISO). An independent, for-profit subsidiary of Verisk Analytics, ISO rates fire departments against industry standards to determine property insurance costs.

“This is a tremendous achievement for our department and the citizens of Wilmington,” Fire Chief Steve Mason said in a news release. “It’s a testament to the excellent service WFD provides every day and a direct result of the support the department receives.”

The ISO score is based on a variety of factors, including water supply, station distribution, communication systems, standard operating procedures, training, number of personnel per device, and risk reduction for the community.

After analyzing the data, the ISO assigns a Public Protection Classification (PPC) on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the best. The PPC is an industry standard rating a local fire department’s ability to respond to fires. The quality of fire protection plays an important role in decision-making on insurance overruns and in determining rates.

According to the ISO, only 338 of the approximately 30,000 fire departments in the United States have achieved Class 1 recognition.

“From fire chief to trainee, this designation is a testament to the dedication of the men and women who serve this community every day,” Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo said in the statement. “As a longtime resident and as mayor of Wilmington, this is a very proud moment for me.”

The Wilmington Fire Department is also recognized by the Center for Public Safety Excellence, a nonprofit organization that recognizes continuous service improvement by first responder agencies and certified emergency service officers. According to the statement, it is one of 113 organizations worldwide to be an accredited agency and an ISO Class 1 department.

“To achieve an ISO 1 rating in addition to agency accreditation is an incredible achievement that speaks to the strong and consistent leadership of the Wilmington Fire Department – ​​not only are we among the best in the nation, we are among the best to the world,” Saffo said in the statement.

The ISO designation came into effect on April 1.

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