With this classification, the Richardson Fire Department is listed among an elite group of departments as it is one of the few municipalities in the U.S., and one of a limited group of departments in Texas, to receive a Class 1 rating.

As part of its evaluation, the ISO collects information on municipal fire-protection efforts in communities throughout the U.S. ISO’s Public Protection Classification (PPC) Program helps establish appropriate fire insurance premiums for residential and commercial properties and provides insurance companies with reliable, up-to-date information about a community’s fire protection services. The formal assessment process consisted of three major areas:

• Fire department (staffing, equipment, training, and emergency response capabilities).
• Water supply system (highlighting the water supply a community uses for fire suppression).
• Fire alarm and communications system (which centers on facilities and support for handling and dispatching alarms).

The ISO evaluation of the fire department accounts for 50 percent of the rating; while water supply accounts for 40 percent, and the department’s communication system accounts for the final 10 percent.

The ISO commended the Richardson Fire Department for adapting to the demands of a changing environment and congratulated the City for its commitment to serve the needs of the community’s property owners and residents.

The improved ISO rating was possible in part because of investments in Richardson's fire protection capabilities -- such as Fire Station 4 and the Fire Training Center, funded through the 2010 Bond Program.