Downers Grove Fire Department Ranked in Top 1 Percent Nationwide

The Downers Grove Fire Department has been awarded a Class 1 designation — the highest classification — by the Insurance Service Organization.

The organization is an independent company that provides information about risk to insurance companies, communities, fire departments, insurance regulators and others, according to a news release.

The classifications are based on emergency communications, fire department (including operational considerations) and water supply. It also includes a Community Risk Reduction section that recognizes fire prevention, public fire safety education and fire investigation efforts.

With this new Class 1 designation, the Downers Grove Fire Department is ranked in the top 1 percent of fire departments nationwide, according to the release. Only five departments in the state, including Downers Grove, have achieved this status.

The rankings range from one through 10, one being the superior rating. Of 48,855 fire departments that have been graded nationally, 98 have achieved Class 1 status. In Illinois, 2,414 departments have been graded.

On April 16, representatives Mike Ramirez and Charles Zydek from the Insurance Services Organization presented Fire Chief Jim Jackson and the Downers Grove Fire Department with the official letter of certification at the Downers Grove Fire Department.

“I am very proud of the hard work and dedication that is always demonstrated by our department. It really takes a team effort to accomplish a success like this,” Jackson said in the release.

Image courtesy of the Downers Grove Fire Department.

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