TUCSON, Ariz. — A new rating issued to the Northwest Fire District could help property owners in the area save money.
The department recently announced a Class 1 Public Protection Classification (PCC) from the Insurance Service Office (ISO), up from Class 2. It's a rating that puts the district's protection community among the top 1 percent in the country.
Insurance companies use the rating the factor risk into their coverage of homes and other property. Northwest Fire's new rating -- which takes effect July 1 -- is likely to lower insurance costs for homeowners in its coverage area, the district said in a press release Tuesday afternoon.
"As a District resident or business owner, the Class 1 rating does more than provide peace of mind about the highest level of services provided; it can also offer a financial return on investment by potentially lowering the cost of property insurance," Northwest Fire District Chief Brad Bradley said in a statement.
According to ISO's website, a fire department's class is determined by its training, communication systems, equipment, geographic deployment, certifications and more. Its class can range from 1 to 10, with Class 1 being the highest rating possible.
The Northwest Fire Distrct covers much of Marana and unincorporated areas in Pima County, northwest of Tucson.
