The Fire-Medical Department recently received notification that the City of Peoria has been recognized by the Insurance Services Office (ISO), through their Public Protection Classification (PPC) system, as Class 1 jurisdiction. Peoria is only the second jurisdiction in the state of Arizona (to date) to receive this distinction. Before this last inspection by an ISO representative, the city of Peoria was rated as a Class 3 Jurisdiction by ISO.

The last time an ISO evaluation was conducted in Peoria was June 2012. At that time, the city of Peoria was recognized as a Class 3 Jurisdiction.

The ISO evaluator “scores” the city in four areas when determining what PPC to award the jurisdiction.

1. Receiving and Handling Fire Alarms

2. Fire Department

3. Water Supply

4. Community Risk Reductions

In 2012 we received 9.37 points put of a possible 10 for Receiving and Handling Fire Alarms, 38.24 points out of a possible 40 for our Water Supply, but only 31.27 points out of a possible 50 for our Fire Department.

Though we have not received our final 2018 report from ISO, we do not expect a dramatic change in points to Receiving and Handling Fire Alarms or Water Supply. However, we have received confirmation that the total points received by the Fire Department this time 44.23 out of a possible 50 points.

This is in part due to the increase in staffing with the addition of a full-time station at Lake Pleasant, the two full-time ambulances on-duty 24/7, and the implementation of the Low-Acuity Unit stationed at Westbrook fire station, Fire Station 192.

Another reason the score has increased in the Fire Department section of the evaluation is that ISO is now working with the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE), the organization that awards Accredited status to Fire Departments around the country, and they also recognize the Automatic-Aid System as the unique system it is that allows us to request, when needed, an almost unlimited amount of resources to handle any emergency in the city of Peoria.

It is anticipated that with the overall Class 1 rating by ISO, that insurance rates, especially commercial occupancies, will see some reductions in the future. Though we cannot guarantee any reductions at this time, they would be worth pursuing by residence, property owners, and business operators in the city of Peoria.