By FireRescue1 Staff
SKOKIE, Ill. — The Skokie Fire Department maintained its ISO Class 1 rating following its most recent evaluation.
Fire Chief Jim Walters announced the rating Sept. 19 at a community board meeting, reported the Chicago Tribune.
“We easily achieved and maintained our ISO Class 1 rating,” Walters said.
The rating is divided into three main components, with 50 percent attributed to fire department service, 40 percent to water delivery and 10 percent to emergency communications.
For the first section, the evaluation included an inspection of the department’s engine companies, pumping capabilities, aerial truck coverage and the amount of personnel during response missions, among other things. The department scored a 49.19 out of 50.
ISO rated the department’s water delivery system a 36 out of 40, and took into account the engineering of the system, the capabilities it can deliver, hydrants and the needed water flow throughout the village.
In the final section of emergency communications, the department received a nine out of 10 rating.
The department is one 57 departments in the country to achieve the Class 1 rating.
“I am proud of the men and women of the Skokie Fire Department who serve our community day in and day out, ready to go into harm’s way at a moment’s notice to protect all of us,” Mayor George Van Dusen said.