From staff reports
The City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department announced last week that it has achieved a Class 1 Public Protection Classification (PPC) rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO), the highest rating possible. This distinction places the department among the top fire protection services in the nation.
“This rating shows how hard our fire department personnel work daily to protect the City of Beaufort and the Town of Port Royal,” Fire Chief Tim Ogden said. We are graded on our training, response times, equipment, water supply system, and 911 dispatch. Beaufort Jasper Water and Sewer Authority scored almost full credit for water supply, and Beaufort County 911 Dispatch scored perfect once again on their grading. Our collaboration with these agencies and automatic aid support from neighboring fire departments shows how working together can benefit our community.
In the last inspection in 2017, the department scored a Class 1; in our re-inspection in 2024, it will remain a Class 1. According to the most recent data, only approximately 498 fire departments in the United States have achieved an ISO 1 rating, and only 17 departments in South Carolina.
The rating can also positively impact the community by potentially lowering property insurance premiums for residents and businesses, as insurers often use ISO ratings when calculating rates. The lower the class, the better the rates are for homeowners and businesses in Beaufort and Port Royal for their property insurance premiums.
