Wheeler Fire Department is rated ISO Class 4.

FAQs:
What is an ISO class rating & how does it effect me?

An ISO class rating, also known as the Public Protection Classification (PPC), is a score from 1 to 10 that measures how well a community's fire department protects the area:

• 1: The best possible rating
• 10: The fire department did not meet the ISO's minimum requirements 

The Insurance Services Office (ISO) is an independent organization that evaluates the quality of public fire protection in the United States.  The ISO uses a variety of factors to calculate a community's score, including:

• Fire department equipment
• Staffing
• Training
• Geographic distribution of available resources
• Water supply systems
• Personnel
• Call volume 

Insurance companies use ISO scores to help determine the cost of hazard insurance premiums for their customers.  A lower ISO score indicates that the community is better protected by its fire department, and therefore homes in that area are less likely to be severely damaged or destroyed by fire.  However, the impact of an ISO score on an individual's homeowner's insurance policy varies by insurer. 

How can a fire department improve its ISO rating?

A fire department can improve its ISO rating by enhancing its training programs, increasing staffing levels, improving communication systems, conducting thorough pre-fire planning, maintaining a reliable water supply, and actively engaging in community risk reduction programs, all while meticulously documenting their actions and capabilities to demonstrate their preparedness during an ISO audit. 

Key areas to focus on:

• Personnel and Training:
  • Recruit and retain qualified firefighters. 
    • Wheeler FD is always accepting applications and provides all training/equipment.  Learn more here
  • Provide regular in-service training for all personnel, including specialized skills. 
  • Emphasize leadership development and incident command training. 
• Communication Systems:
  • Update dispatch and radio equipment.  
    • A Massive State/County wide update was done in 2023
  • Ensure clear communication protocols and procedures. 
  • Implement effective communication systems with other emergency services. 
• Water Supply:
  • Regularly inspect and maintain fire hydrants. 
  • Assess water pressure and flow rates. 
  • Collaborate with water utilities to improve system capacity. 
  • Maintain water shuttles (tankers) where hydrants are not present.
    • Wheeler FD is trying to obtain a new tanker as our current one is 33 years old, but this particular piece of apparatus costs around $900,000
• Pre-Fire Planning:
  • Conduct detailed pre-fire inspections of high-risk structures. 
  • Utilize mapping and pre-planning software to document building layouts and hazards. 
• Community Risk Reduction:
  • Implement public education campaigns on fire safety 
  • Partner with community organizations to address fire risks 
  • Conduct inspections of residential properties 
• Documentation and Record Keeping:
  • Maintain accurate and detailed records of all training, inspections, and incidents. 
    • Wheeler FD is currently updating to new and improved, yet costly, software reporting program with the rest of the county as of November 2024
  • Utilize a robust records management system to easily access data during an ISO audit. 

Important Considerations:

• ISO Audit Preparation: Understand the ISO evaluation criteria and actively prepare for the audit process. 
• Collaboration with Officials: Work with city/county/state/federal leaders to secure necessary funding for improvements. 
• Regular Review and Updates: Continuously monitor and evaluate your department's performance against ISO standards to identify areas for improvement.