Woodstock Fire Department Scores Highest ISO Rating

The Woodstock Fire Department is the first in Cherokee County to obtain an ISO, or Insurance Service Office, rating of 1.

The city on Tuesday made the announcement, which is an improvement from the previous rating of 3. The new rating will go into effect April 1, Woodstock Fire Chief Dave Soumas said.

“I am extremely proud of our team,” he added. “I think this speaks volumes to the citizens and businesses in Woodstock the level of commitment our department has to their safety. To achieve this rating took a collaborative effort from Public Works Department, GIS, as well as the support and guidance from City Manager (Jeff Moon), Mayor (Donnie Henriques) and (the City) Council.”

By comparison, Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services has a split rating of 3/3Y (an improvement from the former 5/9 rating) and Canton Fire Department’s rating is 4.

The ISO system is used to rate how well fire departments serve their area. The scale runs from one to 10, with one being the best fire service. The ratings are used to calculate homeowners’ insurance costs.

The ISO review is divided into four sections: emergency communications systems, the fire department (including equipment, staffing, training, etc.), an agency’s water supply system and efforts to reduce the risk of fire.

To help establish appropriate fire insurance premiums for residential and commercial properties, insurance companies need reliable, up-to-date information about a community’s fire-protection services. ISO provides that information through the Public Protection Classification (PPC™) program.

Woodstock joins only 100 out of roughly 50,000 agencies nationwide that have received a 1 rating. Along with Woodstock, only six agencies in Georgia have received an ISO rating of 1, the city said.

Soumas on Tuesday said Woodstock’s new fire education safety initiatives and new tools to investigate arsons help propel the agency to the 1 rating. Also, Woodstock’s 1 rating was not granted by a slim margin. To obtain the 1 rating, agencies need to place in at least the 90th percentile. Woodstock’s ranking clocked in the 95.8, the chief added.

Additionally, Woodstock fire also scored well in the areas such as manpower, distribution of fire trucks, water supply and training programs, according to the chief.

Now that the city has the 1 rating, that doesn’t mean the agency will rest on its laurels, Soumas stated. It’s imperative Woodstock fire continues to keep up with the growth slated to come to the area, he added. 

Specifically, with the opening of the Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta, Soumas said the city on Friday will go out to bid for designs of a new fire station the city plans to construct on land near the outlet mall.

While residents will see a reduction in insurance premiums due to the improved rating, Soumas said the biggest gains will be seen among commercial property owners. The city encourages residents to inform their insurance companies of the change once April 1 rolls around.

For more information on Woodstock’s ISO rating, call the fire department at 770-926-2302.

Photo 1: Assistant Fire Chief Jimmy Eley, Mayor Donnie Henriques and Fire Chief Dave Soumas

Photo 2: Group shot of Woodstock Fire Department staff members

Credits: Woodstock Fire Department