FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
June 5, 2020
Contact: Robin Godfrey, Public Information Officer, City of Murrieta (951) 461-6007 or Dawn Morrison, Public Information, City of Murrieta Fire and Rescue (951) 461-6154
RE: Murrieta Fire & Rescue ISO Rating Improves
MURRIETA, CA - A new rating puts Murrieta Fire and Rescue in the top 8 percent of all rated fire departments nationwide based on its readiness and ability to suppress fires. This reflects improvements in the department’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) Public Protection Classification (PPC) rating, an industry-standard that helps to determine business and residential insurance rates.
Murrieta Fire Chief David Lantzer gives credit to his strong team. “The men and women of Murrieta Fire & Rescue are to be applauded for their professional dedication to our community and dedication to continuous quality improvement. While we celebrate improvement in our PPC, we still have much to do in order to provide the best emergency services possible to our residents.”
A majority of California insurance companies use ISO’s PPC when calculating residential and business premiums. An improved ISO score can lead to a reduction in insurance premiums for residents and businesses in the city. In ISO’s Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS), there are four main criteria to a fire rating score:
- 50% comes from the quality of your local fire department including staffing levels, training and proximity of the firehouse.
- 40% comes from the availability of water supply, including the prevalence of fire hydrants and how much water is available for putting out fires.
- 10% comes from the quality of the area’s emergency communications systems (911).
- An extra 5.5% comes from community outreach, including fire prevention and safety courses.
ISO assigns a rating from 1 to 10, with 1 being the best and 10 the worst. Previously, Murrieta Fire & Rescue had a Class 4 rating. Beginning September 2020, MFR’s ISO rating improves to Class 3.
ISO calculates fire suppression capabilities in more than 41,000 communities in the country. Murrieta residents and businesses can contact their insurance carriers directly regarding an adjustment in their insurance rates. To learn more about the ISO, click here.
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