News Flash

Aug. 4, 2023 - The Hampton Fire and Rescue division has retained its top rating after an external re-evaluation by the Insurance Services Office. Hampton first received its Class 1 rating in 2015. 

The Insurance Services Office evaluates fire protection efforts, in detail, in cities, counties, and districts throughout the nation. The performance-based evaluation examines emergency communications, fire department performance (equipment, staffing, training, operations, and community risk reduction), community water supply, and needed fire flows. The prestigious class 1 rating is held by only eight other departments in the Commonwealth. 

The ISO rating is often used by insurance companies to set rates. "If your fire department has a strong score from the ISO, this suggests to your insurance provider that the likelihood of your home being destroyed by a fire is low," notes Bankrate.com, an insurance information website.

Fire Chief Jason Monk stated, “Maintaining our Class 1 rating is the product of many dedicated men and women creating and delivering service improvements to the community and is a testament to our continuous improvement expectations. This team effort wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Division members and city officials.”

ISO has reviewed over 48,000 fire departments across the country of which only 388 have received the class 1 rating. In the Commonwealth, Hampton is one of 23 agencies accredited by CPSE, one of nine agencies to hold a Class 1 rating, and one of three combination fire and rescue organizations to hold both titles simultaneously.

The Division provides fire protection, emergency medical services, and community risk reduction services to more than 140,000 citizens over 52 square miles of land and 84 square miles of water. The Division’s 305 full-time members and 50 volunteers provide services out of 11 fire stations and responded to more than 30,000 calls for service in 2022.