How to improve your department ISO rating


How to improve your department ISO rating... by Chief Michael Cottrell Chapter 1: Introduction to ISO
Welcome to the Wonderful World of ISO™ Have you ever spent time around the station and listened to the war stories regarding the ISO™ ? Have you ever listened to the older guys, telling the young guys, “You don’t want to touch the ISO rating, leave it alone !” “Improving our ISO™ rating is IMPOSSIBLE ! We don’t have the NEW trucks”. Probably one of the most common excuses you will hear is, “ We can’t improve our ISO™ rating because we are a “Volunteer Department”. Or how about one of my favorites, “We’ve had a Class 9/10 rating since we were established back in 1959, and we have no desire to improve it.” Get this, that was a direct quote from the Fire Chief and Assistant Fire Chief talking, holding their heads high and proud ! Now this following statement, I found really hard to digest, this being from the south, a quote from the President of the County Commissioners, the same individual holds the Chairman's seat to the Fire Commission that controlled one the county’s largest departments, and it goes like this, “Yes, we are a class 10, and no we don’t carry any real supply line on the trucks, we don’t need it. All of our structures burn down before we get to them”. ISO™ and How it is Structured: If you have been in the fire service any length of time, you should be aware, or at least familiar of the rating system. What is ISO™? The Insurance Services Office (ISO™) is a for profit monopoly. It is authorized by your state legislature or Department of Insurance and is used in essentially the same form in 50 states (Washington and Mississippi has their own state system based upon the 1974 schedule) to rate community fire defenses. ISO™ then sells that data to the insurance industry for the purposes of establishing homeowners and commercial business insurance rates. This rating system holds your department accountable for the local insurance rates that each homeowner will pay annually. And worst yet, IF your community has a poor ISO™ score, that score remains in effect for 15 years! That is,….IF you do not know how to make the proper improvements and you don’t realize you can request a re-rate from the ISO™. Unfortunately, if you do nothing, your community will pay the higher insurance rates for the full duration of the grading period, which as mentioned above, can last up to 15 years. Typically, the fire department is way better than what the ISO™ audit reflects. Consequently, your ISO™ score is higher than it should be, which in turn your community pays out of pocket, higher insurance premiums. Remember the rule of thumb here, a high ISO™ Classification is bad! The lower the Classification the better. The big question then, How is the grading system set up? How does it work? What is graded, and how do they score and establish your Class? Sounds like very involved questions with difficult answers. Some consultants will agree, that it is a very difficult subject. The truth is, they are protecting their jobs. The Fire Service ISO™ Grading Schedule is not difficult. As a matter of fact, it is an open book test! That’s right, imagine that! It is an open book test! How difficult can that be? The Nuts and Bolts of the “Audit and Grading Scale”: First of all, the audit is set up in four categories. Three of the four categories carry their own point and grading system. The fourth category is a combination score of the prior three. The total sum of points from the three categories can add up to 100 points. Now that we have a basic idea of how the Fire Service ISO™ Grading Schedule is constructed, what does each of the four categories cover? The ISO™ completes four evaluations and awards individual grades for the following: 1) A review and audit of the communications and dispatch facilities. Scoring based on 10 points out of the 100. (10%) 2) A review and audit of the water system, water supplies and water reserves. Scoring based on 40 points out of the 100. (40%) 3) A review and audit of the fire department. Scoring based on 50 points out of the 100. (50%) 4) And a community-wide grade combined of the three above. Audit Scores vs. the ISO™ Classifications: How does the 100 point score reflect the ISO™ grade? Each ISO™ grade or classification is broken down in 10 point increments. The grade is presented in a Class 1 to 10 format with Class 1 being the best and Class 9 being the worst with a fire department. A Class 10 indicates no creditable fire protection is available within 5 miles. To put this in terms that we all understand, if an area has a Class 10 rating, they have NO fire department. And as a note, if a fire district is a Class 9, many times the homeowners in that area, have a very difficult time locating an insurance company to cover their assets. When one is located, you typically pay outrageous premiums. Points Needed for Each Class Audit Score ISO Class Audit Score ISO Class 90.0 – 100 1 40.0 - 49.9 6 80.0 – 89.9 2 30.0 – 39.9 7 70.0 – 79.9 3 20.0 – 29.9 8 60.0 – 69.9 4 10.0 - 19.9 9 50.0 – 59.9 5 0.1 - 9.9 10 Let’s Think About Your Current Score : If your department holds an ISO Classification of a 7, that means you only scored 30 to 40% on the test. And just for the record, that means you scored 30 to 40 points out of a possible 100 points. In our education standards, well it used to be ( for the old timers, like me ) that is a failing score! Even if you would score a 60%, which is currently a “D or F” depending on which geographical region you’re located in, you have just obtained an ISO Class 4! How many departments do you know carry a Class 4? West Virginia has 659 posted ISO™ grades representing approximately 445 departments. We will cover the extra grades being posted here in a minute. Back to the main point I’m addressing, out of the 659 posted grades, only 30 departments have a Class 4 rating. Only 10 departments have scored better than the Class 4. Think about that one! Less than 8% of all of the fire departments in West Virginia have been able to achieve a Class 4 or better. What about the Class 9 Classification that some departments carry? A Class 9 means you only scored 10 to 19 points out of the 100 points possible. Why? This is an open book test! I have visited many departments throughout West Virginia, I have looked at hundreds of pieces of apparatus that we as departments own. We are better than what our numbers show! The time has come that we change what our numbers display. It is not hard to improve your ISO Classification, sometimes it can be completed in just a few minutes. Sometimes, critical items can be identified that were missed by the auditors. A couple of these errors can make a full class or two. You mean that the auditor makes mistakes? Sure! They are human like you and I! So the bottom line is, if it is for only a class or two, you should do the right thing. Review your score and let’s make a difference! Start working towards a goal, before long you will have a full wagon of believers behind you making good things happen. Now the explanation of the additional ISO Classes listed. Why do we have 445 departments and 659 posted grades? Very simple, it’s the ISO™ rules of engagement. We will cover this in depth down the road. If a fire district extends out past five miles from the fire station, then a secondary grade will be assigned with the primary. We call this a split classification. Example, lets say Department ABC Fire and Rescue covers a Fire district that is 18 miles long in length. They hold an ISO Class of 7/9/10.The station is located on the far north side of the district. The primary grade will only go into effect for all of the residents that live adjacent to the fire station, traveling out away from the station “five road” miles. Notice, I did not say, five miles by the way the crow flies. It is actual road miles. That is critical to know, because I can bet, 95% of you reading this column, will fall into this sub class one way or another. Now what does this mean? From the station going out to the five road mile mark, will be your Class 7. Now anything located out further than the five road miles, will automatically fall into a Class 9 or even worse a Class 10. How do we correct that problem? There is two main parts to the answer; The first will be covered under the column addressing “Distribution”, The second part of the answer will fall under “Water Supply”. Sounds scary? They are easy! The Hidden Fifth Category “Divergence” A hidden section of the scoring falls into a category not listed above. Prior to ISO™ establishing the final score which is reflected in line item number four as the “Community Grade”, ISO auditors will incorporate one final grading step. This semi-hidden section is called “Divergence”. Divergence is a penalty section that is applied when the fire department and water sections do not match each other in a percentage comparison. ISO™ believes that the water and fire department scores should be relatively close to each other. This is a very important statement! Water and fire must match each other, or the game is over, ISO™ wins! Post audit reviews will compare the scores, if any substantial spread exists between the two departments, then ISO™ will penalize the higher scoring side and reduce it so the two are in line with each other. So let’s put this in terms that we can relate to. Let’s say the fire department scores extremely high, such as obtaining 45 points out of the possible 50. Then during the same audit, the water department scores 12 points out of the possible 40 points. Wow! Hang on! This is a big problem! This is a “major red flag” to the ISO™ audit. The ISO™ grading system will even the two scores by penalizing the fire department score! The ISO™ objective is to bring the fire department score down so it is comparable to the water score. Something to remember here before you ask, ISO™ will never give a lower scoring side “free points” to bring them up with the other side. ISO™ will always reduce to make things even. This reduction or as ISO™ calls it, “divergence” is figured by a complicated mathematical equation. I will not go into this process at this time, for the intent of this column is teach all of the Officers and firefighters the basics of what is needed up front, and how the basics are applied in the scoring system. In the coming weeks, once we have started addressing our in-house issues, we can cover the divergence equation then. As a dedicated fire officer or firefighter, you are now saying, this is not fair! Our fire department scored excellent, only to have the ISO™ take away our points! Points that the fire department personnel have worked hard over the past months to acquire. Think about it this way, if the fire department only scores 5 points out of the possible 50, and your hometown water department has scored 39 out of the possible 40, then the water department will be penalized. Not hardly fair to the water guys is it? Your elected officials have invested a substantial amount of money into the water system, expecting to receive a wonderful community ISO™ score. The truth is, the fire department wiped out most of the new points gained from the water department. So, the penalty can and will go both ways. The bottom line, it does not matter who pulled who down in the scoring, everybody loses! Can you say, “Team Work”? You should start thinking about implementing some good solid “team work” between all the players and organizations involved! By now, you should start seeing and realizing the importance of how the fire and water departments need to work closely together. Most of the time, you will find that the two never talk to each other, let alone work with each on a monthly or weekly basis. If you happen to be one of the departments that has NO water system, there is life ahead of you! I will show you later when we discuss the water requirements of how to handle your area without hydrants. Actually, in some cases, it is easier to accomplish your water score by yourself. Look at it this way, if you have no water department to work with, then the water supply is solely up to you. Your water score is strictly your responsibility, along with the logistics of providing the flow required. There is a trade off, but in some cases, you have no option but to do it yourself. Let’s back up a little here for a warning of a possible mine field that can destroy your efforts. IF you have a water department in your community, you really need to make a special note for yourself. Irregardless, of how good or how bad they are, they will be part of the ISO™ audit by default. SO, if your local water comrades are falling short on the requirement that they will be audited against, then you have to work with them. You must work with them so they capture every possible point they can. The areas that they fall short in, have now become responsibility of the fire department. Huh! Chief, that doesn’t sound fair! It is not, but that’s the price of the war, the price you will pay for the ISO™ adventure. Some will tell you, “You cannot score a decent ISO™ grade without hydrants”, they are wrong! I will show you departments located in this nation that have no water system, that successfully completed what the experts said was impossible. I will also provide you the contact information, so you can call them or email them and hear it yourself. They scored an ISO™ class 1! Not much to brag about, no hydrants, no water, No Problem! They scored a perfect Classification on the audit. It can be done, and I will show you how to do it. I’m sure you have the old saying, “Life is not fair”. Let me tell you, “Sometimes life with the ISO™ does not seem fair”. The rules of engagement will at times seem one sided, nor do they even make sense. The bottom line is, “they” ( ISO ) control the game and “they” have their own rules. To make matters worse, you will eventually come across a section or a rule that you will naturally want to challenge. Pick your battles carefully, your time or the effort should be concentrating on the major items that can be improved! Remember, ISO™ will probably prevail, it is their game. For YOU to win in the game, YOU must beat them at their own rules. You are now arriving at the point, to where you must start thinking about your approach. Many Officers and Firefighters have realized, it easier to block out what you have been told for years prior to now. You need to start thinking “Outside of the Box” for your solutions! Some of the approaches that you develop along this journey, will amaze you and your fellow neighboring departments. Sounds pretty cool to me! Any of my past Line Officers and Firefighters will tell you, the Chief always preaches, “Think Outside of the Box, and always lead the pack. It is five times easier to lead, than it is to play catch up with someone.” Actually once you understand what ISO™ is looking for, it is a tremendous amount of fun. Wow ! What a statement, how can this be fun? The “old timers” have all said it was a nightmare, stay away! Oh, by the way, did the “old timers” mention to you, that the ISO™ audit was an open book test? Didn’t think they did. The second problem is, finding the book! That book and the audit questions will be the main substance of this editorial column in the weeks to come. We will cover the test with you, in our future columns explain the sections and provide innovative approaches that have been successful in other communities. That is a key element, any of the suggestions that we provide to you have been proven and accepted by the ISO™ in prior audits. As we get this new section of the web sight initiated, and we start to build our libraries of information for you, please, take time and respond back to us if you have any questions or suggestions. The Editor and his Staff of the WV Firefighters.com web site is a great group to work with. The Team is full of excitement and are devoted to the firefighters and officers in the state of West Virginia. Our main objective is to supply you, our fellow firefighters, all the tools and knowledge that you may require to improve your service to the residents of your community. My goal as an improvement consultant to you is to bring out your department highlights, make sure you score as high as you can with what you have to work with. Improving your ISO™ Classification is not all about purchasing new apparatus, which is a “myth” regarding the ISO™ improvement process. I will say, some communities will maximize their possible point’s, the organization will have the desire to go even further. Many times, at this point, it is required to start exploring the acquisition of additional equipment. But remember, this additional equipment, does not have to be “new”. As with any editorial column that I publish, I invite you to send me your questions. Feel free to contact me via email at: ISOFireChief@yahoo.com Till the next column, Regards, ISOFireChief
About the author: Michael A. Cottrell, Fire Chief for General Motors Corporation, has over 22 years of Fire and Rescue service ranging from Volunteer to Paid from W.Va. to South Carolina, Nebraska and Ohio. In addition to residential fire protection the author has a solid background on high hazard industrial and manufacturing fire protection. More than 16 years experience as a Fire Chief or Chief Line Officer. Training and specialties include; Certified Fire/Rescue Instructor, high angle rescue, confined space rescue, Arson Investigation and former EMT and Medical 1st Responder He offers ISO certification consulting, has extensive knowledge of ISO Certification process and experienced interaction with ISO personnel.

How to improve your department ISO rating...
by Chief Michael Cottrell
Chapter 1: Introduction to ISO

Welcome to the Wonderful World of ISO™

Have you ever spent time around the station and listened to the war stories regarding the ISO™ ? Have you ever listened to the older guys, telling the young guys, “You don’t want to touch the ISO rating, leave it alone !” “Improving our ISO™ rating is IMPOSSIBLE ! We don’t have the NEW trucks”. Probably one of the most common excuses you will hear is, “ We can’t improve our ISO™ rating because we are a “Volunteer Department”. Or how about one of my favorites, “We’ve had a Class 9/10 rating since we were established back in 1959, and we have no desire to improve it.” Get this, that was a direct quote from the Fire Chief and Assistant Fire Chief talking, holding their heads high and proud !

Now this following statement, I found really hard to digest, this being from the south, a quote from the President of the County Commissioners, the same individual holds the Chairman's seat to the Fire Commission that controlled one the county’s largest departments, and it goes like this, “Yes, we are a class 10, and no we don’t carry any real supply line on the trucks, we don’t need it. All of our structures burn down before we get to them”.

ISO™ and How it is Structured:

If you have been in the fire service any length of time, you should be aware, or at least familiar of the rating system. What is ISO™? The Insurance Services Office (ISO™) is a for profit monopoly. It is authorized by your state legislature or Department of Insurance and is used in essentially the same form in 50 states (Washington and Mississippi has their own state system based upon the 1974 schedule) to rate community fire defenses. ISO™ then sells that data to the insurance industry for the purposes of establishing homeowners and commercial business insurance rates.

This rating system holds your department accountable for the local insurance rates that each homeowner will pay annually. And worst yet, IF your community has a poor ISO™ score, that score remains in effect for 15 years! That is,….IF you do not know how to make the proper improvements and you don’t realize you can request a re-rate from the ISO™. Unfortunately, if you do nothing, your community will pay the higher insurance rates for the full duration of the grading period, which as mentioned above, can last up to 15 years. Typically, the fire department is way better than what the ISO™ audit reflects. Consequently, your ISO™ score is higher than it should be, which in turn your community pays out of pocket, higher insurance premiums. Remember the rule of thumb here, a high ISO™ Classification is bad! The lower the Classification the better. The big question then, How is the grading system set up? How does it work? What is graded, and how do they score and establish your Class?

Sounds like very involved questions with difficult answers. Some consultants will agree, that it is a very difficult subject. The truth is, they are protecting their jobs. The Fire Service ISO™ Grading Schedule is not difficult. As a matter of fact, it is an open book test! That’s right, imagine that! It is an open book test! How difficult can that be?

The Nuts and Bolts of the “Audit and Grading Scale”:

First of all, the audit is set up in four categories. Three of the four categories carry their own point and grading system. The fourth category is a combination score of the prior three. The total sum of points from the three categories can add up to 100 points.

Now that we have a basic idea of how the Fire Service ISO™ Grading Schedule is constructed, what does each of the four categories cover? The ISO™ completes four evaluations and awards individual grades for the following:

1) A review and audit of the communications and dispatch facilities.

Scoring based on 10 points out of the 100. (10%)

2) A review and audit of the water system, water supplies and water reserves.

Scoring based on 40 points out of the 100. (40%)

3) A review and audit of the fire department.

Scoring based on 50 points out of the 100. (50%)

4) And a community-wide grade combined of the three above.

Audit Scores vs. the ISO™ Classifications:

How does the 100 point score reflect the ISO™ grade? Each ISO™ grade or classification is broken down in 10 point increments. The grade is presented in a Class 1 to 10 format with Class 1 being the best and Class 9 being the worst with a fire department. A Class 10 indicates no creditable fire protection is available within 5 miles. To put this in terms that we all understand, if an area has a Class 10 rating, they have NO fire department. And as a note, if a fire district is a Class 9, many times the homeowners in that area, have a very difficult time locating an insurance company to cover their assets. When one is located, you typically pay outrageous premiums.

Points Needed for Each Class

Audit Score ISO Class Audit Score ISO Class

90.0 – 100 1 40.0 - 49.9 6

80.0 – 89.9 2 30.0 – 39.9 7

70.0 – 79.9 3 20.0 – 29.9 8

60.0 – 69.9 4 10.0 - 19.9 9

50.0 – 59.9 5 0.1 - 9.9 10

Let’s Think About Your Current Score :

If your department holds an ISO Classification of a 7, that means you only scored 30 to 40% on the test. And just for the record, that means you scored 30 to 40 points out of a possible 100 points. In our education standards, well it used to be ( for the old timers, like me ) that is a failing score! Even if you would score a 60%, which is currently a “D or F” depending on which geographical region you’re located in, you have just obtained an ISO Class 4! How many departments do you know carry a Class 4?

West Virginia has 659 posted ISO™ grades representing approximately 445 departments. We will cover the extra grades being posted here in a minute. Back to the main point I’m addressing, out of the 659 posted grades, only 30 departments have a Class 4 rating. Only 10 departments have scored better than the Class 4. Think about that one! Less than 8% of all of the fire departments in West Virginia have been able to achieve a Class 4 or better.

What about the Class 9 Classification that some departments carry? A Class 9 means you only scored 10 to 19 points out of the 100 points possible. Why? This is an open book test! I have visited many departments throughout West Virginia, I have looked at hundreds of pieces of apparatus that we as departments own. We are better than what our numbers show! The time has come that we change what our numbers display. It is not hard to improve your ISO Classification, sometimes it can be completed in just a few minutes. Sometimes, critical items can be identified that were missed by the auditors. A couple of these errors can make a full class or two. You mean that the auditor makes mistakes? Sure! They are human like you and I! So the bottom line is, if it is for only a class or two, you should do the right thing. Review your score and let’s make a difference! Start working towards a goal, before long you will have a full wagon of believers behind you making good things happen.

Now the explanation of the additional ISO Classes listed. Why do we have 445 departments and 659 posted grades? Very simple, it’s the ISO™ rules of engagement. We will cover this in depth down the road. If a fire district extends out past five miles from the fire station, then a secondary grade will be assigned with the primary. We call this a split classification. Example, lets say Department ABC Fire and Rescue covers a Fire district that is 18 miles long in length. They hold an ISO Class of 7/9/10.The station is located on the far north side of the district. The primary grade will only go into effect for all of the residents that live adjacent to the fire station, traveling out away from the station “five road” miles. Notice, I did not say, five miles by the way the crow flies. It is actual road miles. That is critical to know, because I can bet, 95% of you reading this column, will fall into this sub class one way or another. Now what does this mean? From the station going out to the five road mile mark, will be your Class 7. Now anything located out further than the five road miles, will automatically fall into a Class 9 or even worse a Class 10. How do we correct that problem? There is two main parts to the answer; The first will be covered under the column addressing “Distribution”, The second part of the answer will fall under “Water Supply”. Sounds scary? They are easy!

The Hidden Fifth Category “Divergence”

A hidden section of the scoring falls into a category not listed above. Prior to ISO™ establishing the final score which is reflected in line item number four as the “Community Grade”, ISO auditors will incorporate one final grading step. This semi-hidden section is called “Divergence”. Divergence is a penalty section that is applied when the fire department and water sections do not match each other in a percentage comparison. ISO™ believes that the water and fire department scores should be relatively close to each other. This is a very important statement! Water and fire must match each other, or the game is over, ISO™ wins!

Post audit reviews will compare the scores, if any substantial spread exists between the two departments, then ISO™ will penalize the higher scoring side and reduce it so the two are in line with each other. So let’s put this in terms that we can relate to. Let’s say the fire department scores extremely high, such as obtaining 45 points out of the possible 50. Then during the same audit, the water department scores 12 points out of the possible 40 points.

Wow! Hang on! This is a big problem! This is a “major red flag” to the ISO™ audit. The ISO™ grading system will even the two scores by penalizing the fire department score! The ISO™ objective is to bring the fire department score down so it is comparable to the water score. Something to remember here before you ask, ISO™ will never give a lower scoring side “free points” to bring them up with the other side. ISO™ will always reduce to make things even. This reduction or as ISO™ calls it, “divergence” is figured by a complicated mathematical equation. I will not go into this process at this time, for the intent of this column is teach all of the Officers and firefighters the basics of what is needed up front, and how the basics are applied in the scoring system. In the coming weeks, once we have started addressing our in-house issues, we can cover the divergence equation then.

As a dedicated fire officer or firefighter, you are now saying, this is not fair! Our fire department scored excellent, only to have the ISO™ take away our points! Points that the fire department personnel have worked hard over the past months to acquire.

Think about it this way, if the fire department only scores 5 points out of the possible 50, and your hometown water department has scored 39 out of the possible 40, then the water department will be penalized. Not hardly fair to the water guys is it? Your elected officials have invested a substantial amount of money into the water system, expecting to receive a wonderful community ISO™ score. The truth is, the fire department wiped out most of the new points gained from the water department. So, the penalty can and will go both ways. The bottom line, it does not matter who pulled who down in the scoring, everybody loses! Can you say, “Team Work”? You should start thinking about implementing some good solid “team work” between all the players and organizations involved!

By now, you should start seeing and realizing the importance of how the fire and water departments need to work closely together. Most of the time, you will find that the two never talk to each other, let alone work with each on a monthly or weekly basis. If you happen to be one of the departments that has NO water system, there is life ahead of you! I will show you later when we discuss the water requirements of how to handle your area without hydrants. Actually, in some cases, it is easier to accomplish your water score by yourself. Look at it this way, if you have no water department to work with, then the water supply is solely up to you. Your water score is strictly your responsibility, along with the logistics of providing the flow required. There is a trade off, but in some cases, you have no option but to do it yourself.

Let’s back up a little here for a warning of a possible mine field that can destroy your efforts. IF you have a water department in your community, you really need to make a special note for yourself. Irregardless, of how good or how bad they are, they will be part of the ISO™ audit by default. SO, if your local water comrades are falling short on the requirement that they will be audited against, then you have to work with them. You must work with them so they capture every possible point they can. The areas that they fall short in, have now become responsibility of the fire department. Huh! Chief, that doesn’t sound fair! It is not, but that’s the price of the war, the price you will pay for the ISO™ adventure.

Some will tell you, “You cannot score a decent ISO™ grade without hydrants”, they are wrong! I will show you departments located in this nation that have no water system, that successfully completed what the experts said was impossible. I will also provide you the contact information, so you can call them or email them and hear it yourself. They scored an ISO™ class 1! Not much to brag about, no hydrants, no water, No Problem! They scored a perfect Classification on the audit. It can be done, and I will show you how to do it.

I’m sure you have the old saying, “Life is not fair”. Let me tell you, “Sometimes life with the ISO™ does not seem fair”. The rules of engagement will at times seem one sided, nor do they even make sense. The bottom line is, “they” ( ISO ) control the game and “they” have their own rules. To make matters worse, you will eventually come across a section or a rule that you will naturally want to challenge. Pick your battles carefully, your time or the effort should be concentrating on the major items that can be improved! Remember, ISO™ will probably prevail, it is their game. For YOU to win in the game, YOU must beat them at their own rules.

You are now arriving at the point, to where you must start thinking about your approach. Many Officers and Firefighters have realized, it easier to block out what you have been told for years prior to now. You need to start thinking “Outside of the Box” for your solutions! Some of the approaches that you develop along this journey, will amaze you and your fellow neighboring departments. Sounds pretty cool to me! Any of my past Line Officers and Firefighters will tell you, the Chief always preaches, “Think Outside of the Box, and always lead the pack. It is five times easier to lead, than it is to play catch up with someone.”

Actually once you understand what ISO™ is looking for, it is a tremendous amount of fun. Wow ! What a statement, how can this be fun? The “old timers” have all said it was a nightmare, stay away! Oh, by the way, did the “old timers” mention to you, that the ISO™ audit was an open book test? Didn’t think they did. The second problem is, finding the book! That book and the audit questions will be the main substance of this editorial column in the weeks to come. We will cover the test with you, in our future columns explain the sections and provide innovative approaches that have been successful in other communities. That is a key element, any of the suggestions that we provide to you have been proven and accepted by the ISO™ in prior audits.

As we get this new section of the web sight initiated, and we start to build our libraries of information for you, please, take time and respond back to us if you have any questions or suggestions. The Editor and his Staff of the WV Firefighters.com web site is a great group to work with. The Team is full of excitement and are devoted to the firefighters and officers in the state of West Virginia. Our main objective is to supply you, our fellow firefighters, all the tools and knowledge that you may require to improve your service to the residents of your community.

My goal as an improvement consultant to you is to bring out your department highlights, make sure you score as high as you can with what you have to work with. Improving your ISO™ Classification is not all about purchasing new apparatus, which is a “myth” regarding the ISO™ improvement process. I will say, some communities will maximize their possible point’s, the organization will have the desire to go even further. Many times, at this point, it is required to start exploring the acquisition of additional equipment. But remember, this additional equipment, does not have to be “new”.

As with any editorial column that I publish, I invite you to send me your questions.

Feel free to contact me via email at: ISOFireChief@yahoo.com

Till the next column,

Regards,

ISOFireChief

About the author:

Michael A. Cottrell, Fire Chief for General Motors Corporation, has over 22 years of Fire and Rescue service ranging from Volunteer to Paid from W.Va. to South Carolina, Nebraska and Ohio. In addition to residential fire protection the author has a solid background on high hazard industrial and manufacturing fire protection. More than 16 years experience as a Fire Chief or Chief Line Officer. Training and specialties include; Certified Fire/Rescue Instructor, high angle rescue, confined space rescue, Arson Investigation and former EMT and Medical 1st Responder He offers ISO certification consulting, has extensive knowledge of ISO Certification process and experienced interaction with ISO personnel.