|
Our experts provide results.
How have others done?
Independence Township Fire Department serves the
City of Clarkston and the Town of Independence.
The City of Clarkston has maintained an ISO Class-5 for
years. In 2006 NFSO was contracted to develop and
project manage a plan to lower the ISO rating. Chief
Steve Ronk manages one of the best fire departments in the
US. He believes superior performance should be a normal way
of life. It is in his blood and heritage; he is a third
generation fire chief. His staff truly follows his
lead and beliefs; it shows in their attitude,
professionalism, and dedication. The ISO rating was a great
concern to Chief Ronk. He learned thru research that
if the ISO rates were lowered, residents and business owners
would benefit by reduced insurance premiums. In over a
two year journey, his proof of excellence became a reality
in 2008. ITFD had the honor offering the City of
Clarkston an ISO score
of Class-3. Only missing a Class-2 by
roughly one point. ITFD was awarded the highest overall "ISO" score
in the "State of Michigan" by any City, Township, or County
which has a population of less than 1,000,000. ITFD's overall
score was a
78.60.
The City of Clarkston and Independence Township are truly
blessed to have such a dedicated Chief, and his professional
fire fighting staff.
The City of Cape Coral
is the Second
largest city
in the State
of Florida
covering 115 square miles. CCFD maintained an ISO Class-4/9. In 2006 the City
hired the consultation services of the National Fire Services Office to
develop a strategy to eliminate areas receiving ISO
Class-9's. Cape Coral has a dynamic fire
department, but lacked the needed fire hydrants to cover
half of the City limits; thus leaving
very large areas poorly protected by the ISO Class-9.
The fire Chief and his staff wanted better for his
community. NFSO designed an alternate water delivery strategy
that used TurboDrafts, a mechanical-less pump, to deliver water from
local canals. Using TurboDrafts CCFD easily
met the needed fire flows of the community; which
enabled CCFD to change their ISO Class
rating from a
Split Class 4/9
to a Class- 3. In
2008 CCFD earned the distinction of being the largest
City to use alternate water as a primary source which
covered over 50% of the city limits. It earned Cape
Coral an ISO Class -3/3!
http://www.capecoral.net/Home/NewsHighlights/tabid/712/mctl/ArticleView/ModuleID/1520/articleId/443/Default.aspx
Camden
County Fire Department serves 620 square miles. In 1999
the County Commissioners desired for the County fire
departments to offer a Class-5 at every fire
station. But they had a problem: No Pressurized
Hydrants within the County Fire District. Using an NFSO
water delivery plan and its project management, the County
Commissioners were greatly surprised and pleased in 2001
when they learned from ISO that every County station had
earned a
Class-4/4.
All properties located within 5-road miles of any County
Fire Station today still offer the best residential ISO
rate possible. CCFD used dry hydrants and
water shuttle.
We Provide Water
Certification!
-
Pre-Inspection Assessment
Don't miss valuable points. NFSO can assist
your agency by providing a review of your records,
equipment, training, 911 communication center, and
the water system. We can provide a formal document that
will provide needed information to guide your agency
to a better score with your next survey. This document
also provides a 5-year plan that can be used for
budgeting and department growth planning. It rates the
needed areas of improvements by using a five year
time-line. It would be a bad time to learn
that you need improvements during an Insurance
Services Office inspection. Implement those
improvements before the inspection. Get your
department on the road to recovery. We have never
visited a fire department that is already receiving
the maximum credit for records of: hose test, ladder
test, pump test, hydrant tests, training, staffing,
equipment carried, hose carried, operational
procedures, 911 Center operations, and water system
data. Our goal is to
accomplish long lasting improvements will lead to a
lower fire suppression rating.
-
Fire Suppression
Rate Schedule (Full Meal Deal)
We assist your fire department throughout the entire
inspection process. We will fly to your agency and
personally guide
your department through this rigorous process. We will improve your
methodology of keeping good records of: testing, training,
staffing, calls, pre-plans, and purchases. We'll work with your 911 center and your local
water providers to improve the scores they receive. We
provide a 50-year drought study if needed. Our technicians
will train your staff in the field and at your station(s). This program is very comprehensive and
consistently provides the lowest scores.
-
Water
Distribution Study
NFSO develops a written
assessment to identify the strengths and weaknesses of
a community's water delivery methodology. Information
is collected from water providers which can be
used to quantify the available water verses the
needed water for "Fire Flow". Up to forty
(40.0) points can be earned from water during the
ISO survey. It is critical to earn your maximum credit for this
issue.
This information can also be used for planning and
growth development purposes. This section contains
almost half
of the entire ISO grade.
-
Alternate Water
Supply (Water Shuttle and Dry Hydrants)
We have one of the best
records in the country. When other consultants told
Camden County Commissioners that the County's 620
square miles covered by 10-stations could never be a
class 5/5, we proved it could be done. And we went
one step further. Camden County Fire Rescue now
holds a Class 4/4 rating. Homes that
are four and a half miles from any of Camden's 10
fire stations now receive the best rating a
homeowner can be rewarded, a Class 4. A
"Water Shuttle" can be a fire department's best
weapon in reducing insurance rates. It gives all property owners the same
credit as if a hydrant was located in their front
yard! All areas receive the same rate.
Not only is a water shuttle attainable,
but affordable. Did you know that dry
hydrants can
also receive the same credit as a
pressurized hydrant? Like many of the fire
departments we work with, Coffee County Fire
Department received a class one score
for their water supply. Dry hydrants were the only water
sources used during the inspection. Let us show you
how your community can benefit from dry-hydrants.
-
Billing for
Emergency Services
You may be losing money every day! In most states, fire
departments can bill insurance companies for services they provide. These funds can help your
department buy that
needed new truck, purchase equipment, or hire fire fighters.
Fire Departments, Rescue Squads, EMS, and Emergency
Management Agencies use our proven billing
service to assist receiving these funds. We teach
your agency how to bill insurance companies
for the service your
agency provides. These insurance payments can equal big
bucks for your operating budget. Check your
homeowner's insurance policy. You'll find a clause that
provides for the fire department to be paid for services
rendered. Why throw this money away?
-
Emergency
Management Issues
NFSO can
assist your community by designing: School Safety Plans,
Emergency Operation Plans, Hazardous Mitigation Plans, Mass
Fatality Plans, Hurricane Disaster Plans, Severe
Weather Action Plans, Coastal Zone Management
Initiatives, Disaster Planning for Pets and Animals,
Safe Sheltering Planning, Storm Ready Certifications,
or any other Contingency Planning needs.
-
Training Video
Production
NFSO owns and operates a complete video production studio. Videos produced by firefighters; for firefighters! Our studio produces training videos that use your
department's equipment, techniques, input, personnel, and ideas. We
produce training videos that teach cognitive and practice based skills. These videos
provide vital information that will
assist your department by teaching needed
skills meeting NFPA, AWWA, and ISO® guidelines.
We can also produce a historical video of your ISO
inspection. The video would
provide a record of your department's
efforts as it goes through the rate reduction
process. This would be a wonderful tool to use to recap
for future inspections or can be used to maintain the
quality of operations in the future. We would film your agency from the beginning to
the end of your inspection!
-
Equipment Condition and Training
Report
Is your equipment compliant?
Do you stock it properly? Replacement frequency? Is your training up-to-date? Is it
NFPA and ISO® compliant? Are
you training using
the proper criteria? Do you have enough training hours
per year? These are things you need to know!
-
Manpower Assessment
Many times NFSO is contracted
to look into a departments operational methodology to
provide an assessment of needed employees, verses their
current staffing load. Sometimes we find a department
needs more, and sometimes they need less. NFSO
offers different perspectives as to how staffing changes
will effect your communities ISO score.
-
Records
Management
Is your training calendar up to date? Are your pumps being tested
on time? Will your run reports give you the
maximum credit? Are your hydrants receiving
maximum credit? Do you have a computer program
holding this data? We will assist your agency by
creating a yearly schedule for these items. We also
have experts that can review your computer system to identify critical
areas that need improvement.
-
E-911 Enhancements
and Design
NFSO can provide
professional E-911 project management and
consultation!
NFSO
specializes in E-911: building design; hardware
collaboration, software upgrades, radios
enhancements,
building improved management protocols, and data
storage issues. We’ll
show your community how to save money on ground-up
or remodeling projects and receive
better services. Let us
show you how to save money with your 911 dispatch
system.
Most chiefs
deal with an Insurance Services Office
survey once in their
career, if at all. Why take the chance of losing those needed
points? Why receive a poor score for your community.
Providing these services is our only
business. We lower rates day in and day out.
You need a professional agency that has the resources and
commitment to help your agency get that low score. Our staff has over 100 years of Fire
Department Management and
Insurance Adjusting and Underwriting experience.
NFSO is a
full line industry leader that provides nationwide services.
The
Insurance Services Office (ISO)
works for the insurance industry.
We work for
you!
Call
904-683-3028
Fax
912-857-6710
National Headquarters
1622 Airport Road
Sylvania, Georgia 30467
Skip@NFSO.us
This website and the products
and services noted herein are not in any way sponsored by,
related to, or connected with, the Insurance Services Office,
Inc. ("ISO®") or any subsidiary or affiliate of ISO®."
|
