ISO Rating

The Insurance Service Organization (ISO) rates fire departments based on available water supply, communication systems and fire fighting capabilities. A rating of 1 indicates the lowest risk of structural damage due to fire; a rating of 10 indicates the highest risk.

With the consolidation of fire service in the North Shore, those communities served by the North Shore Fire Department received a significant reduction in their fire insurance ratings. For those communities with a municipal water system, the rating dropped from a 4 or 5 to a 2. For those communities without a municipal water system, the rating improved from a 9 to a 5.

Currently, no department in Wisconsin has achieved a rating of 1. Only five other departments in the state have received a rating of 2.