By Phillip Wade
Galena Sentinel Times – October 30, 2013
Submitted by Newz Group Clipping Service – November 1, 2013
Thanks to the hard work of the Galena Fire Department the city’s fire suppression rating is now a 5 out of 10, a rank of 1 being the best a city can achieve. The ratings gauge the fire protection capability of the local fire department to respond to structure fires and can mean considerable savings to homeowners insurance premiums. Steve Hall, Assistant Fire Chief, said that homeowners should contact their local insurance agents to inform them of the change in Galena’s ISO rating.
Ratings are based on three key areas; 10% Dispatch, 50% Fire Department, and 40% Water Supply. Field representatives evaluate the communications center, looking at the number of operators at the center; the telephone service, including the number of telephone lines coming into the center; and the listing of emergency numbers in the telephone book. Field representatives also look at the dispatch circuits and how the center notifies firefighters about the location of the emergency. ISO reviews the distribution of fire companies throughout the area and checks that the fire department tests its pumps regularly and inventories each engine company’s nozzles, hoses, breathing apparatus, and other equipment. ISO also reviews the type and extent of training provided, the number of people who participate in training, and maintenance and testing of the fire department’s equipment. Also included in the ratings are whether the community has sufficient water supply for fire suppression beyond daily maximum consumption. ISO surveys all components of the water supply system, including pumps, storage, and filtration. To determine the rate of flow the water mains provide, they observe fire-flow tests at representative locations in the community. Finally, they evaluate the distribution of fire hydrants.
Hall said that the department is close to reducing the city’s rating to a four with the retiring of one truck and the purchase of a new vehicle. The department is also working with Galena City Superintendent Jason Youngblood to improve the city’s hydrant systems.
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