The Charlotte Fire Department has received a Class 1 Public Protection Classification (PPC) rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO). The Class 1 rating means business owners, residents and visitors to Charlotte can count on superior fire protection. It is also one of the factors used to determine fire insurance premiums for homeowners and businesses.
“This is an incredible achievement for the Charlotte Fire Department and for everyone living and working in Charlotte,” said Chief Jon Hannan, announcing the news at the July 27 City Council meeting. “Out of 48,574 fire protection areas rated in the country, just 132 received the Class 1 rating. This means the Charlotte Fire Department ranks in the top two-tenths of one percent of all fire departments in the United States.”
There are 1,723 fire-protection areas rated in North Carolina; of those, just 13 received the Class 1 rating, which puts the Charlotte Fire Department in the top one-percent in the state. This is a first for the fire department; ISO’s last assessment was in 1972, when CFD received a Class 3.
The ISO’s grading scale is from Class 1 (best) to Class 10 (worst, doesn’t meet minimum standards). Well done.
