February 13, 2008 - Fire Department Maintains Class 1 Status

Class 1 Status-the highest possible

Mayor Cedric Glover and Fire Chief David Glass announced at yesterday’s Council meeting that the city’s fire rating will remain Class 1. The Property Insurance Association of Louisiana (PIAL) recently completed a full audit and review of the city’s fire and water departments and the results were its highest rating yet, 91.77%, in renewing its Class 1 status.

The Fire Department was rated Class 1, the highest possible distinction, buy the Property Insurance Association of Louisiana for the first time in 1998 and again after review in 2003. The five-year rating serves as a measurement for insurance underwriters to set their fire rates for commercial and residential property in the city. The lower the class rating (range from 1-10) the higher level of fire service resources, including water supply, are said to be available - thus a greater chance at minimizing property damage from a fire.

Areas evaluated by PIAL and the percentage of this year’s audit (with the highest possible in parenthesis) were:

• Receiving and handling fire alarms: 10 % (10%)
• Fire Department Emergency Operations/equipment, Fire Prevention efforts, and training: 47.47% (50%)
• Water Supply: 35.53% (40%)
• A divergence (difference between water and fire percentages) decreased the actual number by 1.23%

The Fire department had to maintain an overall minimum of 90.0% of the above criteria to keep its Class 1 status. They finished with a 90.66% in 1998 and 90.30% in 2003. In a 2006 report and study, the Class 1 status of the Shreveport Fire Department saved commercial and residential property owners $3.7 million in insurance premiums annually over a lower class rating. Complete details of the latest rating, including how each evaluation area fared will be released at the meeting. ###