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 were 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.”
Woman behind fake veteran story arrested by feds
May 1, 2024
