Fire Department Climbs Up Safety Rating Scale

Annapolis residents might see a dip their insurance premiums now that the city's fire department has a better score from the Insurance Service Office rating.

“The department focused on developing a training record-management system, increasing our multi-company drills and nighttime training," Chief David Stokes said in a press release. "Teamwork, along with the support of the community, has made this a memorable accomplishment.”

The risk-analysis company collects data on the firefighting capabilities of communities across the United States, and scores them on a scale from one to 10, according to a press release. Class 1 means the department offers exemplary public protection, while a Class 10 indicates poor fire protection.

Maryland has no Class 1 rated departments.

Annapolis has been a Class 3 for as many years as Battalion Chief John Menassa said he can remember, but this year the department rose to become one of four departments rated Class 2 in Maryland.

The rating is determined by looking at things like whether the department has a sufficient water supply, how well it responds to fire alarms and how well a department trains its firefighters.

The scores are made public to insurance companies that factor the health of an area's fire department into the cost of homeowners' and renters' insurance policies. A better prepared fire department can mean lower rates for area residents.

Mayor Josh Cohen said Annapolis "seized an opportunity to improve its department, and it resulted in not only an increased rating, but also more public confidence in the city’s ability to respond, protect and assist our citizens."