HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Huntsville Fire and Rescue got the top 1% of fire departments nationwide after receiving an ISO ranking of one this year.
“We have to have 100% reliability,” said Huntsville Fire Chief Mac McFarlen. “There’s no room for error when we’re fighting a fire.”
When it comes to fighting fires, response time and effectiveness are crucial. These are things that go into consideration when a fire department is being judged on its ISO rating.
The ISO rating is a score assigned by the Insurance Services Office, ranking a department’s protection capabilities on a scale from 1 to 10.
“We have a certain number of hours and a certain number of actual drills on the drill field annually that each firefighter… each of our crew has to complete,” he said.
Chief McFarlen said they look at every little detail.
“It starts out when the first 911 call is made,” he said. “Someone calls 911, and the clock is ticking. They look at how long it takes dispatch to answer that call and to process that call, and we’re talking seconds.”
Although it’s not only bragging rights for the city and the staff. McFarlen explained that a station’s ISO rating directly impacts homeowners. He said the better the ranking, the better the deal for homeowners insurance.
As the Rocket City continues to grow, Chief McFarlen said Huntsville Fire and Rescue is working harder each year to stay at the top.
“Huntsville is growing, and we are trying to plan ahead and grow with it to make sure as we grow, that we can continue to provide that to all the citizens of Huntsville,” Chief McFarlen said.
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