New Lenox Fire District Has Great News

(The following information is from a press release issued by New Lenox Fire Protection District.)

NEW LENOX, IL - The New Lenox Fire Protection District is proud to announce that the Insurance Services Office has awarded the fire district with a Class 2 rating, a significant improvement from the previous Class 4 and Class 8 rating. This is exciting news for property owners as the improvement could translate into lower insurance rates for residences and businesses within the fire district.

The ISO Class 2 rating recently became effective for those who live within the New Lenox Fire Protection District. To put the rating into perspective, of the approximately 46,000 fire departments in the United States, only 305 have achieved the elite Class 1 rating and only 1,482 have attained a Class 2 rating.

This places New Lenox into the top 4 percent of the nation, leaving 96 percent of the fire departments across the United States with ratings below that which the New Lenox Fire Protection District has now achieved.

The review process is comprehensive. Fire department review accounts for 50 percent of the total grading and reflects the district’s response capabilities. The water system within the community accounts for 40 percent and emergency communication systems account for 10 percent of the total grading.

“This achievement is a direct reflection of the service and dedication of our fire district, and the excellent work they do to protect our community every day,” said Fire District Trustee Joe Levey. “The rating also takes into consideration the water distribution system and fire hydrants that are serviced and maintained by the Village of New Lenox, and also the Laraway Communication Center staff, who professionally dispatch our public safety services.”

The ISO rating is one of the primary elements used by the insurance industry to develop fire protection premiums for homes and businesses. ISO provides ratings on a relative scale of 1 through 10, with 1 representing exemplary public fire protection and 10 indicating the public fire protection does not meet minimum standards. The lower the ISO rating, the lower the premium. The ISO rating reflects standards developed over many years from the study of pertinent fire protection conditions and performance standards.

Image via John Ferak/New Lenox Patch Editor