Before a community can receive a Public Protection Classification (PPC®), the community must have at least these minimum facilities and practices:
Organization
The community must have a fire department organized permanently under applicable state or local laws. The organization must include one person responsible for the operation of the department, usually with the title of “chief.”
The fire department must serve an area with definite boundaries. If a community does not have a fire department operated solely by or for the governing body of that community, the fire department providing such service must do so under legal contract or resolution. When a fire department’s service area involves more than one community, each of the communities served should have a contract.
Firefighter response to alarms
To receive better than PPC Class 10, the fire department must demonstrate that at least 4 firefighters respond on the initial alarm to all reported structure fires. One of the 4 may be the chief officer.
Training
The fire department must conduct training for active members at least 3 hours every 3 months.
Emergency communications
Communications facilities and arrangements must operate without delay in the receipt of alarms and dispatch of firefighters and apparatus.
Apparatus
The department must have at least one piece of apparatus meeting the general criteria of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus.
Housing
The department must house apparatus to provide protection from the weather. If the community does not meet the minimum criteria, we will assign the community a Class 10.
Other criteria
Our Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS) — the manual we use in reviewing the firefighting capabilities of individual communities — lists other minimum criteria for receiving particular PPC ratings: