CARMEL – The Carmel Fire Department has earned one of the highest
ratings of all volunteer fire companies throughout the United States meaning
reductions in fire insurance premiums for residents and businesses throughout
the hamlet of Carmel.
ISO or the Insurance Services Office offers risk assessment services and
decision analytics for property and casualty insurance and assigns a Public
Protection Classification number from one to 10.
Class 1 represents superior property fire protection representing paid
departments with full-time staff while Class 10 indicates the area’s
fire suppression program does not meet the ISO’s minimum criteria.
Earlier this year, Carmel 1st Assistant Chief Matt Lubera, with the assistance
of 2nd Assistant Chief Scott Efferen and firefighters Robert Longo, Mike
McMahon, John Rotella and Charles Lamb spent hundreds of hours analyzing
the department’s structural firefighting capabilities and suppression
delivery services available to the greater Carmel area.
The data was reviewed by the ISO allowing the Carmel FD to raise its rating
from a Class 4-9 to a Class 3.
Of the 43,094 fire departments across the U.S., only 3,456 have the Class
3 certification and the overwhelming majority of those are paid departments.
Class 2 departments total 1,482 and Class 1 departments number 305.
Chief Dave DiRienzo lauded the six firefighters for their “extensive
research by reviewing calls, response time, the amount of hose contained
in each engine, when trucks were pump tested in addition to department
training and membership records. So much was involved in this classification
survey.”
The chief noted most importantly for the community is that each property
owner within the fire district and fire protection district will now have
their fire insurance rates reduced.
A spokesman for the ISO explained the price of fire insurance with a good
ISO rating is lower than that with a poor one.
ISO historically evaluated three major categories of fire suppression,
emergency communications and available water supply. Recently, a Community
Risk reduction section was added that recognizes community efforts to
reduce losses through fire prevention, public fire safety education and
fire investigation.
Chief DiRienzo described the rating for his department as “historical.
To be in the top 10 percent of all fire departments nationwide is truly
amazing. Only a small number of paid departments reach this level. I am
so proud of the men and women of our department for their community involvement
by answering the alarm morning, noon and night to assist others in need
while giving of their time for training, maintaining equipment and apparatus
and being away from their families.”
DiRienzo added that his department, like all others in the county, is
always seeking new members. “If you would like to join the CFD,
please stop at the firehouse on Sunday morning or Tuesday evening and
speak with our officers before picking up an application. Becoming a volunteer
firefighter is tremendously rewarding.”
