Joplin Fire Department receives strong ISO rating

(From the Joplin Fire Department)

The Joplin Fire Department is moving up the ladder, and not just the one on the firetruck. The department recently underwent a hazard risk analysis conducted by the Insurance Services Office (ISO) and was rated a “2”, which is one point better than previous years. This also moves them into a select group of fire departments in Missouri, as only 23 have the 2 rating.

The ISO provides information to insurance companies nationwide that details a fire department’s capability in helping to prevent a fire from happening, as well as, in their ability to minimize damage should one occur. The results of this analysis are then utilized by insurance companies to assign a hazard classification or rating to those properties currently protected by the Joplin Fire Department (JFD).

Various factors contribute to the overall rating. These include department training, response times, 911 emergency communications, equipment, water supplies, and record keeping.
“Much of the improvements relate to the emphasis our agency has on firefighter training,” said Fire Chief Jim Furgerson. “We recently completed the training tower and it sees use almost daily from our staff. It provides real-life experiences through exercises and simulations that increase our crews’ skill levels each and every training session. It is a great asset for the department.”

Located on the City property along Highway 171, the four-story training tower opened in December 2015, and provides a realistic and safe training environment for both fire and police personnel. The tower is constructed of structural steel with steel panels and movable interior walls with three controlled burn areas and simulators for both a high-rise fire and/or an elevator rescue. The exterior has a brick-like appearance, with provisions for teaching rappelling and ladder use operations.

Funding for the Public Safety Training Tower was secured through the passage of a Public Safety Sales Tax in 2006, and is part of the first phase of a two-phase development for the Public Safety Training Center.

Construction is currently underway on the second phase: the Public Safety Training Center located adjacent to the tower. With 19,000 square feet, it will provide classrooms and office space for training personnel in both fire suppression and law enforcement fields. Expected to open in early 2017, it will replace the temporary facility located in the former terminal of the Joplin Airport that opened in 2013.

This improvement in ratings also benefits the community and residents. Based on a scale of 1 – 10 (with 1 being the best and 10 being the worst), this rating system is significant to insurance companies when setting their rates. A lower number indicates to the underwriter a lesser probability of a fire and a reduced amount of potential damage should one take place. This most generally translates to decreased costs for non-residential property owner as well as to the individual seeking coverage.

Furgerson notes that the improvements made in the past years would not have been possible without the support of the citizens of Joplin.

“Annual training is required of our firefighters, and having the resources we need in our community provides for a more efficient process in getting each of them through the necessary courses,” he said. “They don’t have to travel, and can often complete the classes and drills around their shifts, which both provides savings to the City’s budget. We appreciate our citizens and thank them for the ongoing support they have shown our agency throughout the years.”

ISO representatives conducted their review in August 2016. There is only one fire departments in the state of Missouri with a better rating than Joplin’s recent rating. The City of Joplin’s previous hazard rating of 3 was assigned during the last ISO rating conducted in 2015.