[Press Release] : City of Columbia improves ISO rating from Class 3 to Class 2

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Battalion Chief Steven Sapp - (573) 499-7035

ISO Contacts: Vincent Smedile - (201) 469-2440 or Massood Abolfazli -
(201) 469-2427

City of Columbia improves ISO rating from Class 3 to Class 2

Columbia's fire protection improves in latest evaluation by
insurance-industry advisory firm

COLUMBIA, MO (January 6, 2009) - The fire-protection services of
Columbia, as rated by an insurance industry advisory company, has
improved to Class 2 from Class 3. 

The classification by Insurance Services Office Inc. (ISO), known as
the Public Protection Classification (PPC) program, assesses the
fire-protection efforts in a particular community.

“Our ability to improve our PPC classification was positively
influenced by our increase in training activities,” said Columbia Fire
Chief William Markgraf. 

The Columbia, Missouri Fire Department doubled its score in the
training component of the evaluation from 4.23 to 8.46 (out of a
possible 9) compared to its prior evaluation in 2005.

Columbia becomes one of only seven fire departments in Missouri to
achieve a Class 2 rating according to the latest information from ISO.
There is only one Class 1 fire department in Missouri, the St. Louis
Fire Department. There are 75 Class 3 departments and 179 Class 4
departments. Of the 1,784 fire departments in Missouri, the majority,
715, are ranked as Class 9 fire departments according to ISO.

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 its Fire Suppression Rating
Schedule (FSRS). The company then assigns a Public Protection
Classification 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 communities’ ability to suppress fires, ISO helps the
communities evaluate their public fire-protection services. The program
provides an objective, countrywide standard that helps fire departments
in planning and budgeting for facilities, equipment and training. And 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 their fire fighting services.

“Statistical data on insurance losses bears out the relationship
between excellent fire protection - as measured by the PPC program - and
low fire losses,” added Markgraf. “The prospect of potentially
saving lives was a great incentive for us to improve our
classification.”

ISO is a leading source of information, products and services about
property and liability risk. ISO provides statistical, actuarial,
underwriting, claims and related information and analyses to insurers,
reinsurers, agents, insurance regulators and other government agencies.
For more information, visit the ISO mitigation Web site at
www.isomitigation.com.

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