OTTAWA – The Ottawa Fire Department has improved its ISO fire rating. Because the Insurance Services Office has moved the city’s rating from 4 to 3, Ottawa home and business owners could see savings in their insurance rates, Fire Chief Jeff Carner said. The fire department, city and 911 officials worked hard and many months to lower the rating, he said. ISO officials made two inspection trips to Ottawa, he said. The city was scored on the basis of its emergency communications and alarm system, the water supply and distribution system, and the quality of the fire department, he said. The process of getting the lower rating has made the department better and the community safer, he said. Carner said he’s pleased with the rating. Several departments in the state have reached the 3 rating; only seven have done better, he said. The ISO ratings go from 1, which is the gold standard for fire departments, to 10, which basically means cross your fingers and hope there’s no fire.
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1:30 p.m.
