Fire Insurance and Your Fire Department - ​What Is the Connection?

The Hard Facts

Fire Insurance Premiums are based on your fire department’s capability to respond enough people and the proper equipment to a fire. “To help establish appropriate fire insurance premiums for residential and commercial properties, insurance companies need reliable, up-to-date information about a community’s fire protection services. Insurance Service Office (ISO) provides that information through the Public Protection Classification (PPC™) Program.”

What is the Public Protection Classification (PPC) Program?

“ISO collects information on municipal fire protection efforts in communities throughout the United States. In each of those communities, ISO analyzes the relevant data using the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS). ISO then assigns a Public Protection Classification (PPC) from 1 to 10. Class 1 generally represents superior property fire protection, and Class 10 indicates that the area's fire-suppression program doesn't meet ISO’s minimum criteria.

By classifying a community’s ability to suppress fires, ISO helps the community evaluate its public fire protection services. The program provides an objective, countrywide standard that helps fire departments in planning and budgeting for facilities, equipment, and training. By securing lower fire insurance premiums for communities with better public protection, the PPC program provides incentives and rewards for communities that choose to improve firefighting services.” ISO PPC Program information

Mountain View Fire Rescue (MVFR) recognizes the financial impacts insurance premiums have on homeowners and businesses in our service area. For the past two years, MVFR has made improvements to lower insurance ratings for homeowners and businesses within the District.

The Future

As the ISO rating is reduced, this means that you may be able to enjoy lower insurance premiums and better service from MVFR.  Please check with your insurance company to determine if you qualify for a reduced premium.  In an effort to continually assist our communities with economic development and to keep risks low MVFR continues to lower its ISO rating. 

• Late 2012 5/9
• November 2014 3/9
• September 2015 2/8B (2Y)
• February 2022 2/3