"WHAT'S MY ISO RATING?"

The Insurance Services Office (ISO) grades each fire district in the United States to determine that area's "rating" on a scale of one to 10. An ISO rating is used to determine insurance premiums; the lower, the better.

ISO analyzes three categories -- water systems, emergency communications, and fire department operations -- to determine a general rating, which is plugged into a formula that includes the location of the nearest fire station and the nearest fire hydrant. The resultant of that formula is determines what you pay for home owner's insurance.

The Southern Platte Fire Protection District currently had its ISO rated improved to a Class 4 district for structures within 1,000 feet of a fire hydrant and five road miles from a fire station.

If you live in Parkville, Weatherby Lake, Platte Woods, Houston Lake, and Farley, you fall into that category, just as you would if you lived within the Kansas City limits. If you're farther out than that--in unincorporated Platte County--your ISO rating is a 9.

There are more than 900 fire departments in the State of Missouri, and only half have a protection Class 4 or better.

For more information regarding your ISO rating or for information about hydrant spacing, fire station location, or fire department operations, contact Fire Marshal Dean Cull at 741-2900 during weekday business hours.