Buda Fire Department Receives Class 1 ISO Rating

“This superior rating reflects the hard work and dedication of the men and women of the Buda Fire Department to maintain such high standards of fire protection for the residents of this community,” said Buda Fire Chief Clay Huckaby.

Buda Fire Department/Hays County Emergency Services District #8 will officially receive its Class 1 ISO rating during a presentation at the Buda Fire Department Main Station Tuesday, September 18, at 6:00 p.m.

A presentation will be made by representatives from the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Insurance Services Office (ISO) to Buda Fire Department and the Commissioners of Hays County Emergency Services District #8.

The community is invited to attend.

Buda Fire Department ISO Class 1 Presentation
Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018
6:00 p.m.
Buda Fire Department Main Station
209 FM 2770
Buda, TX 78610

The ISO rating is used to measure the quality and effectiveness of fire protection in a community. With a one (1) being the best possible rating on a scale of one to ten.   Additionally, it allows residential and commercial property owners the opportunity to obtain the best possible insurance rates along with receiving exemplary fire protection services.

“This superior rating reflects the hard work and dedication of the men and women of the Buda Fire Department to maintain such high standards of fire protection for the residents of this community. Earning this rating is a result of years in the planning, obtaining and implementing key fire service resources in our community,” said Buda Fire Chief Clay Huckaby. “Buda Fire Department / Hays County Emergency Services District #8 is extremely proud to be recognized as one of the leading Fire Departments in the Nation.”

With this classification, Buda is listed among an elite group of departments as it is one of only 300 to achieve the Class 1 rating in the United States, out of over 49,000 communities surveyed. There are 63 departments in Texas that have been awarded a Class 1 rating.

Earning a Class 1 rating is a tremendous accomplishment for Buda and will have a lasting positive effect on property owners. This classification, which only a few communities in the state have earned, creates the opportunity for companies to have lower insurance rates and positions the Buda community to become an even more safe and cost-effective place to live and work.

As part of its evaluation, the ISO collects information on fire-protection efforts in communities throughout the U.S. ISO’s Public Protection Classification (PPC) Program helps establish appropriate fire insurance premiums for residential and commercial properties and provides insurance companies with reliable, up-to-date information about a community’s fire protection services. The formal assessment process consisted of three major areas:

· Fire Department (staffing, equipment, training, and emergency response capabilities, as well as Fire Marshal activities).

· Water supply system (highlighting the water supply a community uses for fire suppression). 

· Fire alarm and communications system (which centers on facilities and support for handling and dispatching alarms).

The ISO evaluation of the fire department accounts for 50 percent of the rating; while water supply accounts for 40 percent, and the department’s communication system accounts for 10 percent.

ISO commended Officials for adapting to the demands of a changing environment and congratulated the city and Hays County Emergency Services District #8 officials for the commitment to serve the needs of the community’s property.

“A Class 1 rating is not easy to earn,” said Buda Fire Chief Clay Huckaby “To do so takes a collective effort by so many associated with Buda Fire Department and Hays County Emergency Services District #8. Because of upgrades to Hays County 911 Communications operations, superior City of Buda water systems, fire department facilities, apparatus, personnel and training; we were able to maximize our rating.  Many of these improvements were possible through the funding provided by Hays County Emergency Services District #8, which are used to provide emergency services to the district, and I want the community know it was their support of the Emergency Services District, which allowed us to achieve this rating.”

About the ISO

ISO is a New York-based advisory organization that serves the property and casualty insurance industry by providing inspection services, insurance coverage form development and statistical services.

ISO is a leading supplier of statistical, underwriting and actuarial information for the property/casualty insurance industry and has offices in Dallas and Austin.

There are several accomplishments that Buda Fire Department / Hays County Emergency Services District #8 are proud of that contributed to our ISO Evaluation:

• The construction of two outlying substations to minimize call response time.
• Ability to hire additional staffing as tax funding permits through Hays County ESD #8.
• Awarded three SAFER Grants totaling over $1.2 Million
• The acquisition of three fire Engine’s with Compressed Air Foam Systems
• Construction of a certified Live Fire Training Facility
• Establishing in-house 24-hour EMS service through a unique partnership with Hays County ESD #2
• Acquisition of Buda’s first Aerial Ladder Truck
• Fire Code Inspection Enforcement, Plan Review and Fire Marshal Services
• Review by ISO that in return improved fire protection and lower insurance