Evansville Fire Department Insurance Services Office (ISO) Findings

What is an ISO Rating? The purpose of the Insurance Services Office (ISO) Rating Schedule is to review the available public suppression facilities in order to develop a Public Protection Classification (PPC) for fire insurance rating purposes Measures the major elements of a city’s fire suppression system Measurements are developed into a PPC number

What is a Public Protection Classification Measurement on a relative scale of 1 to 10 with 1 representing the best rating and10 representing a less than the minimum recognized protection According to the ISO, communities with the worst PPC ratings have fire losses two or more times as high as communities with the best PPC ratings

Per the ISO in the State of Indiana Class 1 Communities0 Class 2 Communities1 Class 3 Communities36 Class 4 Communities71 Class 5 Communities229 Class 6 Communities316 Class 7-101,000+

Fire Suppression Rating Schedule According to the ISO, the rating schedule is a fire insurance tool It is not intended to analyze all aspects of a comprehensive public fire protection program It should not be used for purposes other than insurance rating PPC is only one of several elements used to develop fire insurance rates for individual properties

Other features specifically relating to individual properties that have similar importance in the development of fire insurance rates Construction of building Occupancy Processing hazards Exposures Private fire protection devices

What is our rating? The City of Evansville received a rating of which is a Class 4 PPC Evansville’s previous rating was completed in We received a rating of which is a Class 3 PPC The EFD needs to make up points to regain our Class 3 PPC No change in Classification will be implemented while we are in the process of working to improve our PPC. We will remain a Class

How do we make up points? The EFD has until February 26, 2010 to complete necessary changes to improve our PPC After a careful review of the ISO’s analysis, we have already taken steps necessary to improve our rating and maintain a Class 3 PPC Within 30 days, we notified the ISO of our desire to develop a program to improve our rating Within 30 days, we notified the ISO of our desire to develop a program to improve our rating Submitted a list of areas we intend to address Submitted a list of areas we intend to address Immediately started implementing changes necessary to improve our rating Immediately started implementing changes necessary to improve our rating3.01

“We have notified the ISO of our intent to devise a plan to correct the Department’s deficiencies and we have started to make changes that will not only retain a Class 3 PPC, but will also improve the department in order to help provide the best possible service to the community,” said Fire Chief Keith Jarboe. “Some additional expenditures will be necessary in order to improve our ISO rating, help keep insurance rates low for homeowners and businesses and help us improve as a Public Safety Agency.”

Our Plan Eight areas were identified by EFD staff as areas where we felt we could make improvements. Credit for Dispatch Circuit Credit for Ladder Service Credit for Reserve Ladders and Service Trucks Credit for Engine Companies Credit for Reserve Engines Credit for Distribution Credit for Training Equipment Deficiencies

Credit for Dispatch Circuits Three options were submitted to the ISO. All three options submitted were approved We will be adding a second dispatch circuit for our fire stations and apparatus Hoosier Safe-T radios will be installed in all fire stations and trucks Hoosier Safe-T radios will be installed in all fire stations and trucks This will allow us to receive dispatched runs in case of a primary dispatch circuit failure

Credit for Ladder Service We will be placing a Quint in service on the North side of Evansville This will take place in the next 60 days This will take place in the next 60 days We will be adding two dedicated ladder companies on the east side This will be accomplished by reassigning resources currently in the Department This will be accomplished by reassigning resources currently in the Department First reassignment will take place January 2010 First reassignment will take place January 2010 Second reassignment will occur after North Knight Annexation is completed Second reassignment will occur after North Knight Annexation is completed

Credit for Reserve Ladders and Service Trucks Upgrade equipment on the Reserve Ladder Companies

Credit for Engine Companies When EFD was rated, no credit was given for the two new Engines we now have in the fleet. We need to maximize all credit available. We only need credits to achieve a PPC class

Credit for Reserve Engines By adding the two new Engines to our fleet, our reserve fleet will also be better equipped. Once again, we must maximize our points to improve our PPC by decreasing the deficiency

Credit for Distribution This relates to how our equipment is distributed across the city. First due Engine Companies within 1 ½ miles First due Engine Companies within 1 ½ miles ISO recommends 13 Engine Companies for Evansville Ladder Companies within 2 ½ miles Ladder Companies within 2 ½ miles ISO recommends 6 Ladder Companies for Evansville

EFD will be relocating two Engine Companies, creating two dedicated Ladder Companies and adding a Quint to the North side of Evansville to improve our distribution score. This will help improve our efficiency and provide better service to the citizens of Evansville.

Station 14 Located at Willow Road and Lincoln Ave. Originally built in the late 1800’s, Station 14 was rebuilt as a single house (Engine only) in Station 14 was originally located in its present location due to Evansville’s expansion to the east. Station 14 currently responds to 700+/- runs a year Approximately 1.9 runs per day Approximately 1.9 runs per day

Station 14’s Current District

Station 14 Reassignment Engine 14 will be reassigned as an Engine company to Station 16 at Washington and Villa Quint 16 currently located at Station 16 will respond as a dedicated Ladder company Provides Evansville with a second dedicated ladder company

How will 14’s area be covered after this change? The area previously covered by Station #14 will now be covered by four stations Station #1 550 SE Eighth at Gum Station #1 550 SE Eighth at Gum Station # Oak Hill at Weinbach Station # Oak Hill at Weinbach Station # South Weinbach at Covert Station # South Weinbach at Covert Station # Washington at Villa Station # Washington at Villa Meets the ISO Standard of 1 ½ mile travel and NFPA requirement for first arriving Engine arrival time (4 Min.)

Reallocation of Station 14’s District Four stations will be responsible for incorporating 1.9 runs per day into their daily responsibilities.

Station #10 Originally built in 1889 on the Southeast corner of Columbia and Heidelbach Current station built on the Northeast corner of Columbia and Heidelbach in 1977 Currently houses an Engine Company Currently responds to /- runs a year Approximately 2.9 runs per day Approximately 2.9 runs per day

Station 10’s Current District

Station 10 Reassignment Engine #10 will be reassigned to Station #9 located at 2020 Keystone Drive Relocation will take place after North Knight Annexation is completed Relocation will take place after North Knight Annexation is completed Quint 9 currently located at #9 Fire Station will respond as the third dedicated ladder company Provides Evansville with its third dedicated ladder company

How will 10’s area be covered after this change? The area previously covered by Station #10 will now be covered by four stations Station #1 550 SE Eighth at Gum Station #1 550 SE Eighth at Gum Station # Oak Hill at Weinbach Station # Oak Hill at Weinbach Station #3 310 North Fourth Ave. Station #3 310 North Fourth Ave. Station # North Kentucky Ave. Station # North Kentucky Ave. Meets the ISO Standard of 1 ½ mile travel and NFPA requirement for first arriving Engine arrival time (4 Min.)

Reallocation of Hose House 10’s District Four stations will be responsible for incorporating 2.9 runs per day into their daily responsibilities.

Credit for Training We need to do a better job of documenting what we already do Currently looking at new software to track and record all Training on the EFD Currently looking at new software to track and record all Training on the EFD Began developing and implementing new Training programs and requirements Company Officer Development Program Company Officer Development Program New recruit 40 hour Driver Operator certification New recruit 40 hour Driver Operator certification Driver re-certification program Driver re-certification program Quick Access pre-fire program Quick Access pre-fire program Increased our minimum training requirements from 20 hours per month to 30 hours per month Increased our minimum training requirements from 20 hours per month to 30 hours per month All personnel are required to do monthly training

Equipment The ISO identified some areas where we could improve our rating by reallocating equipment Addition of additional Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) bottles on apparatus Addition of additional Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) bottles on apparatus Various hand tools Various hand tools Adding salvage covers to apparatus Adding salvage covers to apparatus Addition of 2 ½ inch nozzles on some of the apparatus Addition of 2 ½ inch nozzles on some of the apparatus

Documentation We are using FleetMate to schedule required maintenance on our apparatus Pump testing Pump testing Hose testing Hose testing Ladder testing Ladder testing Aerial testing Aerial testing Annual service Annual service

Conclusion We are in contact with the ISO representatives on a regular basis. Changes are being made and we feel confident that we have a good plan and will do what is necessary to overcome our deficiency and retain our Class 3 PPC