Brad Bain

The foundation of an effective fire department is knowledge–an attribute that firefighters display every day in communities across the United States. But other components of successful fire protection can vary by community, including adequate water supply, training, and equipment.

Walking the blackened earth where a wildfire has passed through, there’s much to learn. We can see the growing scope of the hazard, how a brush fire explodes into a catastrophe, the challenges firefighters face, and the choices people make that can save or threaten lives and property.

Because the risk for loss is so high, insurers use various tools to determine fire loss potential for properties they insure. Two of these tools are from Verisk/ISO: Public Protection Classification (PPC®) and FireLine®. Each program uniquely addresses various aspects of fire prevention and loss. Here are the very important differences between them.

When a fire department attains a high Public Protection Classification (PPC®), it’s a source of pride and accomplishment. It acknowledges that the fire department provides exemplary community fire protection. Many departments publicize the fact when they earn a Class 1, 2, or 3 rating. They understand that letting people know their community has exemplary fire protection can have a positive effect on residential and commercial insurance rates, community reputation, and quality of life.

Benchmarking a fire department against its peers is an essential tool in measuring that department’s ability to deliver services to the community. The analysis can help inform strategic planning, budget requests, staffing decisions, equipment purchases, training needs, and more. However, many communities aren’t equipped to make these analyses on their own, because they consume valuable time and limited resources.