The Holts Summit Fire Protection District has received an ISO rating of 4/4y after being reviewed by the Insurance Services Office in September of 2018. The last ISO review for the district was in 2014 and moved HSFPD from a Class 8 rating to a 5/6Y rating. The score is based on the structural fire suppression system capabilities of the district. ISO’s Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS) evaluates four primary categories of fire suppression: fire department, emergency communications, water supply, and community risk reduction. “This rating is something our citizens should be proud of. In 2017, less than 30% of all Fire Departments reviewed in the United States had a score of 4 or better.” Public Information Officer Scott Pasley said. “Our citizens provide the department with the support and resources we need, and in return our volunteers strive to always provide the best service possible. This independent review shows that we are on the right path.” According to the ISO Mitigation website (isomitigation.com) Holts Summit Fire Protection District joins a group of less than 300 of the more than 1500 Fire Departments in Missouri to have a score of 4 or lower. Holts Summit Fire Chief Jason Turner also praised the efforts of the Fire District board and staff. “I cannot begin to describe the amount of time and hard work that the Assistant Chiefs, Company Officers, and all of the district members have done to improve our rating. Without this commitment by the members of our organization, this great accomplishment would not have been possible. The Board of Directors should also be commended for their continued support and hard work to make good on the promises made in the bond Issue that funded $3 million dollars’ worth of equipment and facility improvements.”
According to the ISO website, ISO's expert staff collects information about municipal fire protection efforts in communities throughout the United States. In each of those communities, ISO analyzes the relevant data and assigns a Public Protection Classification (PPCTM) — a number from 1 to 10. Class 1 generally represents superior property fire protection, and Class 10 indicates that the area's fire suppression program does not meet ISO's minimum criteria.
Virtually all U.S. insurers of homes and business property use ISO's Public Protection Classifications in calculating premiums. In general, the price of fire insurance in a community with a good PPC is substantially lower than in a community with a poor PPC, assuming all other factors are equal.
Pasley indicated that the split between 4 and 4Y in the classification reflects service related to distance from a water supply. “The first number represents the classification for those properties that are within 5 miles of a fire station and have a reliable water supply, such as a fire hydrant, within 1,000 feet of the structure. The second number applies to those properties within 5 miles of a fire station that are not within 1,000 feet of a water supply”.
Founded as a volunteer fire department in 1970, and becoming a Fire Protection District in 1988, the Holts Summit Fire Protection District has been proudly serving the citizens of Southwest Callaway County for more than 40 years. The department currently has two fire stations serving our citizens. Station 1, located at the intersection of Center Street and South Summit in Holts Summit, houses the departments administrative staff, primary response apparatus, and training facility/community room. Station 2, located at the intersection of Highway AA and County Road 4044, houses additional apparatus.