Bloomfield Fire Department Ranked In Top 5% Of Nation: Officials

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The Bloomfield Fire Department placed well – again – on the Insurance Service Organization’s (ISO) ratings for municipal fire agencies. According to a Bloomfield Township news release, the BFD ranked in the top 5 % of the nation as part of the ISO study.

Bloomfield officials stated:

“The ISO rates 46,042 municipalities across the country, with only 241 receiving a class 1 distinction, and 1,324 receiving a class 2 distinction, placing The Township of Bloomfield in the top 5% of all municipal fire departments in the entire country. Bloomfield has been assessed a class 2 rating for over a decade.”

The class 2 distinction is consistent with the BFD’s previous ratings from the assessment, which is carried out approximately every five years, town officials stated.

According to Bloomfield officials:

“The ISO fire safety ratings are a comprehensive system that evaluates three primary areas of fire protection -- Fire Department, Communication and Water Supply -- as well as many subcategories. The ratings take into account each department's equipment, training, manpower, response times, dispatching and many other factors. The ISO looks at water connections, the efficiency of 911 responses, response capacity and testing records of ladders, hoses and other official vehicles.”

Deputy Fire Chief Lou Venezia said that improving Bloomfield’s ISO fire safety rating has been among his highest goals since he took over the post.

“I am very proud to see our hard work be recognized," Venezia said. "This rating could not have been achieved without the support of the township of Bloomfield and the efforts of our entire staff, especially Deputy Chief Nelson, who revamped our training program which was instrumental in our high ISO rating.”

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