A recent independent evaluation of Stratford’s fire suppression capabilities and equipment has resulted in an upgrade of the town’s rating by the Insurance Services Office (ISO), and this could mean reduced insurance costs paid by town residents and businesses.
Stratford’s new Public Protection Classification will be upgraded to 03/3Y as of Nov. 1. The rating was 4/9 before the new evaluation, according to Stratford Fire Department Deputy Chief Jonathan Gottfried.
Residents should be encouraged to contact their insurance representative to determine whether the improvement to the town’s ISO fire rating will benefit them, said William Guerrera, senior vice president of USI Insurance Services of Connecticut in a news release issued by the office of Mayor John Harkins.
While this improvement does not guarantee a savings to every homeowner, the new rating could mean savings for residents on their homeowner’s insurance policies, according to Guerra. Savings of approximately $50 per year is not unrealistic, according to the mayor’s office, depending upon the rating system used by the resident’s homeowners insurance company and the value of the property insured.
Commercial properties, too, may also anticipate reduced insurance costs because of the town’s improved fire rating, according to Gottfried. Economic Development Director Karen Kaiser agreed.
Gottfried said the improved rating’s potential positive impact on commercial development is one of the reasons why this is good news for the town. “It is part of the effort to make the town attractive to developers,” he said.
Harkins credited the Town Council and the fire department for working with his administration to achieve the ISO rating upgrade, which, he said, will ultimately benefit all Stratford residents.
“The Town Council has been supportive of funding equipment and training, while the leadership of Chief Robert McGrath and his team at the fire department has worked in unison with our firefighters to achieve this accomplishment which will benefit our town,” said Harkins.
What was done
Under the direction of McGrath, Gottfried said he and the chief began working on achieving a better fire insurance rating for the town shortly after Gottfried arrived on the job in August 2012. Gottfried said they could see what needed to be done.
Actions taken by the fire department to improve the rating included acquiring two new trucks with a combined cost over $1 million, acquiring new breathing apparatus with a cost of roughly $300,000, and improving the maintenance of the department’s fleet of vehicles.
Gottfried credited the town’s Department of Public Works for getting mechanics certified as emergency vehicle technicians, so that more of the equipment maintenance could be done by experts in town. Improved maintenance of vehicles, combined with new vehicles, contributed to the favorable evaluation from ISO.
“We spent a lot of money, and if not for the mayor it would not have happened,” Gottfried said. Now, he said the taxpayers are getting a “return on investment” for the money spent on improved fire services.
Training and cooperation
Training of department personnel and cooperation of the firefighters in the process were key factors, too, Gottfried said, in the eyes of ISO.
Captain Mike Camperlengo led the department through 23,000 man-hours of training in the past calendar year, according to Gottfried, and that was assisted by having an improved computer management information system, which helped the department track all the training and present it to ISO.
Gottfried said that good relations between department administration and the firefighters helped the training process, which helped the rating improvement process.
“The firefighters wanted the changes,” he said. “They got on board” when they could have obstructed the process.
“I see a department full of people that really care,” said the deputy chief. “Everybody seems to be pitching in.”
Other areas of improvement that combined to help the town earn the improved fire insurance rating are communications, having a completely updated book of Standard Operating Procedures, and improving the water supply with a new hydrant on North Peters Lane. The list goes on.
Added Harkins, “Since I have been mayor, we have strived for better municipal services and delivery of those services for Stratford taxpayers. Public safety and the protection of lives and property is paramount with all of our emergency services. The changes made over the last few years have made Stratford safer, as indicated by the upgrading of the town’s ISO rating.”
“And,” Gottfried said, “we’re not done. Reaching a goal doesn’t mean you stop improving.”
He and Chief McGrath have sights on improving the rating further after the next ISO evaluation a few years from now.