Sept_Oct 03

Texas Fire World

ISO Ratings Determine Fire Insurance Premiums

The fire protection facilities available in a community determine the ISO Public Protection Classification for the community. The PPC is one determinate that helps set the residential and commercial property insurance rates for a community. Mike Pietsch, of Mike Pietsch, P.E. Consulting Services Inc. specializes in getting the communities he represents the best ISO rating.
Pietsch stated: “Obtaining an improved rating does not necessarily equate to large capital expenditures. Many communities simply need to do a better job maximizing the advantages of their existing fire protection infrastructure.”
Mr. Pietsch normally tries to improve the PPC of a community from an economically feasible position, such as improved record keeping, water flow testing, and accurate water maps. If a community requires additional apparatus he certainly recommends it. However, many times the community has adequate apparatus that is suitably equipped. In that case he improves the PPC via other options.
Texas is relatively new to the Insurance Services Office PPC ratings. This system has been the rating tool in most states since the early 1900’s. Texas adopted it in 1994 for commercial properties and 1997 for residential properties. As of January 1997 the “key rating” system is no longer used in Texas. A major disadvantage of the outdated key rating system was that unincorporated areas could not obtain a classification. This meant that all fire districts throughout Texas were rated as unprotected. Today any area that meets the minimum standard can obtain an ISO PPC.
The ISO Field Representative collects information on the public fire protection facilities and analyzes the data using the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule. The survey and grading will result in a PPC from 1 to 10. Class 1 represents the best possible protection and Class 10 indicates less than the minimum recognized protection.
There exist only five class 1 communities in Texas – Plano, Frisco, Wylie, Houston and Tomball. Mr. Pietsch surveyed and graded Plano, Wylie, and Frisco. Obviously all 3 obtained a class 1. Mr. Pietsch assimilated the majority of the support data that was used to grade Houston. All of the original data used to grade the Tomball Fire District was obtained for ISO by Mr. Pietsch.
By classifying a community’s ability to extinguish or control fires throughout their fire protection boundary, ISO helps them evaluate their public fire protection services. The program provides an objective, countrywide standard that helps communities in planning and budgeting for facilities, equipment and training. By securing lower fire insurance premiums for communities with improved public protection, the PPC program provides incentives and rewards for communities that choose to improve their firefighting services.
Mr. Pietsch, a former ISO Senior Field Representative, worked exclusively on Public Protection Classifications for over 26 years. He also was the technical PPC editor from 1984 to 1997 for all PPC work in Texas. Today, he works as a consultant for communities who want to improve their ISO rating. Mr. Pietsch has the endorsement of the Texas Fire Chiefs Association.
“I visit a community in advance of an ISO survey and perform a mock grading of the community,” he said. “ I then give the community a list of suggested improvements which, if implemented, will improve their ISO PPC. I can list improvements that will take them from their existing class to a classification of 1, one class improvement at a time. Each improvement will have a score associated with it demonstrating exactly how much that improvement will increase the community’s score.”
Mr. Pietsch also assists in preparing the pre-survey packet that will be given to ISO during the survey process. “The Fire Chief and his staff can continue with their normal daily operations while I assimilate all the extensive amount of support data required to justify the answers provided the Field Representative via the pre survey packet,” he said. “ The administrative process throughout the community does not have to come to a complete halt while the answers to this packet are generated and documented. The ISO rating process is too tedious to master for a once in a career event.”
The last step in the rating process is a visit to the community by the ISO Field Representative. Mr. Pietsch suggests that he assist the community with the survey to guarantee that the information provided ISO is in the proper format.
To contact Mike Pietsch, call 972-271-3292 or wmpietsch@comcast.net

News Briefs

Houston Has New Firefighter Academy
Houston - A joint project between Cy-Fair College, Harris County Emergency Services Tax District 9 and the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department is providing state certified training for firefighters and paramedics.

The new Emergency Services Education Center is one of the campuses of the Cy-Fair Community College located in northwest Harris County.

Cy-Fair College has filled a need in the Houston area for a one-year course of study that will graduate state certified firefighters and paramedics who can serve as volunteers or full-time professionals.

Officials say the courses are comprehensive and intensive and the training is physically demanding, things that will attract only people who are really determined to complete the course.

Visit their web site at:
http://www.cy-faircollege.com/EMSfire/docs/about.cfm

Feds Offer Reimbursement to Fire Departments

A program by the federal government may reimburse fire departments for fighting fires on property wholly owned by the United States. Eligible properties include military bases. U.S. forests and federal office buildings. The reimbursements are intended for direct costs and losses incurred in fighting a fire on federal property. Only an authorized fire department or its authorized representative may submit an application for reimbursements.

Examples of reimbursable expenses include overtime, additional fuel, water and chemicals, rental equipment, damage repair costs and depreciated capital losses. Non-reimbursable items include, but are not limited to, ordinary salaries and administrative costs, injury and death benefits and normal maintenance and wear and tear.

Claims must be received within 90 days of the incident and must include a detailed description of the incident, an official copy of the dispatch record, a copy of the department’s incident report authorized by a representative of the fire department and proof of federal ownership.

Sept./Oct. 2003		Texas Fire World ISO Ratings Determine Fire Insurance Premiums The fire protection facilities available in a community determine the ISO Public Protection Classification for the community. The PPC is one determinate that helps set the residential and commercial property insurance rates for a community. Mike Pietsch, of Mike Pietsch, P.E. Consulting Services Inc. specializes in getting the communities he represents the best ISO rating. Pietsch stated: “Obtaining an improved rating does not necessarily equate to large capital expenditures. Many communities simply need to do a better job maximizing the advantages of their existing fire protection infrastructure.” Mr. Pietsch normally tries to improve the PPC of a community from an economically feasible position, such as improved record keeping, water flow testing, and accurate water maps. If a community requires additional apparatus he certainly recommends it. However, many times the community has adequate apparatus that is suitably equipped. In that case he improves the PPC via other options. Texas is relatively new to the Insurance Services Office PPC ratings. This system has been the rating tool in most states since the early 1900’s. Texas adopted it in 1994 for commercial properties and 1997 for residential properties. As of January 1997 the “key rating” system is no longer used in Texas. A major disadvantage of the outdated key rating system was that unincorporated areas could not obtain a classification. This meant that all fire districts throughout Texas were rated as unprotected. Today any area that meets the minimum standard can obtain an ISO PPC. The ISO Field Representative collects information on the public fire protection facilities and analyzes the data using the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule. The survey and grading will result in a PPC from 1 to 10. Class 1 represents the best possible protection and Class 10 indicates less than the minimum recognized protection. There exist only five class 1 communities in Texas – Plano, Frisco, Wylie, Houston and Tomball. Mr. Pietsch surveyed and graded Plano, Wylie, and Frisco. Obviously all 3 obtained a class 1. Mr. Pietsch assimilated the majority of the support data that was used to grade Houston. All of the original data used to grade the Tomball Fire District was obtained for ISO by Mr. Pietsch. By classifying a community’s ability to extinguish or control fires throughout their fire protection boundary, ISO helps them evaluate their public fire protection services. The program provides an objective, countrywide standard that helps communities in planning and budgeting for facilities, equipment and training. By securing lower fire insurance premiums for communities with improved public protection, the PPC program provides incentives and rewards for communities that choose to improve their firefighting services. Mr. Pietsch, a former ISO Senior Field Representative, worked exclusively on Public Protection Classifications for over 26 years. He also was the technical PPC editor from 1984 to 1997 for all PPC work in Texas. Today, he works as a consultant for communities who want to improve their ISO rating. Mr. Pietsch has the endorsement of the Texas Fire Chiefs Association. “I visit a community in advance of an ISO survey and perform a mock grading of the community,” he said. “ I then give the community a list of suggested improvements which, if implemented, will improve their ISO PPC. I can list improvements that will take them from their existing class to a classification of 1, one class improvement at a time. Each improvement will have a score associated with it demonstrating exactly how much that improvement will increase the community’s score.” Mr. Pietsch also assists in preparing the pre-survey packet that will be given to ISO during the survey process. “The Fire Chief and his staff can continue with their normal daily operations while I assimilate all the extensive amount of support data required to justify the answers provided the Field Representative via the pre survey packet,” he said. “ The administrative process throughout the community does not have to come to a complete halt while the answers to this packet are generated and documented. The ISO rating process is too tedious to master for a once in a career event.” The last step in the rating process is a visit to the community by the ISO Field Representative. Mr. Pietsch suggests that he assist the community with the survey to guarantee that the information provided ISO is in the proper format. To contact Mike Pietsch, call 972-271-3292 or wmpietsch@comcast.net
Table of Contents Videos Available for Fire Departments Page 2 New Firefighting Academy Opens in Houston Page 2 Dallas Memorial Commemorates Persistence Page 3 Grant Information Page 4

The “Other” Fire That Burned Itself into History Everyone has heard of the Great Chicago Fire on October 8, 1871, but another fire in Wisconsin that same night killed three times as many people and destroyed several townships. The Peshtigo Fire, named for the area reporting the greatest damage and loss of life, had many different causes, including a prolonged drought in the midwest, slash and burn logging, and woodworking as the main industry. On that night, villagers noticed a glow on the horizon and rising winds. Some headed towards the river, accounting for the few survivors. The subsequent firestorm swept through settlements, suffocating and burning at least 1,100 residents. Apparently, no lessons were learned from this fire as other deadly firestorms swept the midwest during the next few years.