Rural Fire Protection Task Force

ISO - Insurance Service Office Audit Preparation Assistance

The Vermont Rural Fire Protection Task Force is committed to helping fire departments improve the services they provide to their communities.  Our programs have included the Dry Hydrant Grants and Water Supply Plans for towns.  As fire departments and towns take advantage of these programs, many of them may be eligible for reductions in their Insurance Service Organization (ISO) ratings.  Lower ISO ratings can result in lower property insurance for businesses and homes.  The task force would like to help Vermont communities take that next step and lower their ISO ratings. 

One way we can achieve this goal is to provide information about the ISO process to Fire Departments and help them identify the steps needed to achieve a lower ISO rating.  In 2003, the Vermont Rural Fire Protection Task Force hired a consultant to help us with this task.  The Vermont Rural Fire Protection Task Force contracted with Fire Safety Management Inc. to provide information to towns and fire departments to help them understand the ISO rating process.  All towns and fire departments in Vermont were asked if they would like to receive assistance in understanding the ISO rating process.  Fire Safety management Inc. then worked with the towns selected to receive assistance. Specifically, Fire Safety Management Inc. provided the following services:

I) Explained the ISO Public Protection Classification rating schedule to 17 Vermont fire departments.  This explanation included: 1) general information and education about ISO requirements and rating process, 2) identification of additional steps that may be needed before an ISO evaluation could result in a lower rating.

           II)  Provided necessary assistance to one Vermont fire departments that helped prepare them to apply for an ISO review that could result in a reduced ISO rating.  The town of Sherburne/Killington was selected to receive this assistance because they were the most prepared for an ISO review.

Each fire department that participated received copies of forms developed to help them log their activities such as testing and training in a manner that complied with ISO requirements.  Some towns that requested the assistance only met briefly with the Fire Safety Management representative and decided they did not wish to pursue the goal of lower ISO ratings at that time.  Others used the information to implement changes that will help them prepare for an ISO review in the future.

The town of Sherburne/Killington had been preparing for an ISO review and was selected to receive additional assistance.  In addition to the services provided by Fire Safety Management they also received assistance from ISO Changer.com from Savannah , Georgia to certify the water capacity of ponds and streams used for rural water supplies at 50 year drought levels.  The Rural Fire Protection Task Force provided some funding for this contract.  Their ISO review is scheduled for August 2004.  The Town of Sherburne/Killington is continuing to receive services from ISO Changer.com, at their own expense, to help them receive the lowest ISO Rating possible.

Another item that can help lower ISO ratings is a water supply plan.  If your town does not have a current plan, you can request assistance in developing one from the Task Force by calling or emailing Troy Dare at (802) 828-4595.  There is no cost for this assistance.  You should also receive a request for proposals for funding for dry hydrants.  Installation of dry hydrants at strategic points throughout the town will also help with ISO ratings and more importantly, provide better water sources for fire protection.

New ISO Assistance

ISO Certification of Rural Water Supplies under 50 year drought conditions

This program will help two communities certify, to the requirements of ISO, their Rural Water Supplies under 50 year drought conditions.  During the past five years the Vermont Rural Fire Protection Task Force has helped many communities develop rural water supplies, but these rural water supplies must be certified under 50 year drought conditions for ISO to consider them when awarding a new ISO rating.  A lower ISO rating for a community indicates an increased fire protection ability and often results in a reduction of insurance rates for the community.   Many Vermont communities have improved their rural water supplies and in turn increased their fire protection, but they have not certified their rural water supplies under 50 year drought conditions for ISO.  This certification process can be too expensive for small rural communities to afford. 

We are planning to assist two communities with this expense.  The expenses are associated with a requirement that each rural water supply be certified under 50 drought conditions by a Professional Engineer and Hydrologist.  Many communities do not have easy access to these professionals and must hire consultants to perform this certification at a substantial cost.  The program will provide two grants to assist two communities in the certification of their rural water supplies under 50 drought conditions.  Grant applications for this program should be available for the summer 2004.   

Back to Rural Fire Protection Task Force Home