Fall 2016

Fall 2016
Welcome to Community Fire Protection News...

Welcome to Community Fire Protection News, our online newsletter for the fire service, insurers, building officials, water professionals, and emergency responders. We provide concise and topical fire protection information, relevant community mitigation and insurance news, and more.

CFP News is a joint publication of Verisk Insurance Solutions and its ISO Community Hazard Mitigation business. In this issue, we explore new technology, safety issues, and other activities in community hazard mitigation. In an interview with Chief Gary S. Allyn of the West Hartford Fire Department, we discuss the decline in fire frequency, and that topic is featured in our “You Make the Call” video poll. We get a very personal perspective on cancer in the fire service from one of our own, Chief Tom Weber, ISO Community Hazard Mitigation national director. Other articles provide insight on how Washington County, Maryland, attained its BCEGS® class 2 designation, a look at a traditional fire department wetdown, and an introduction to our new ISO logo.

This issue also includes many industry updates and insights. We hope you’ll find our latest information useful in your own efforts to keep people and property safe against fire and other catastrophes.

Robert L. Andrews
Vice President and Chief Field Operations Officer
Verisk Insurance Solutions

Fire Frequency vs. Fire Severity: An interview with Chief Gary S. Allyn, West Hartford Fire Department

September 8, 2016

An interesting current trend in the fire service is that fire frequency is down nationally, but fire severity has increased.

Austin Fire Department’s RED Team promotes use of unmanned aerial vehicles in firefighting

September 7, 2016

The fire service is often a risky and dangerous profession. Modern technology holds a lot of promise in making it safer for firefighters, emergency responders, and the public. Community Fire Protection News wants to share information as often as we can on the new devices and systems being developed.

A good old-fashioned wetdown

By Anthony Zampella Jr.
September 6, 2016

The fire service is known for its traditions. One such tradition is the time-honored commissioning of new fire apparatus with a good old-fashioned wetdown.

You Make the Call

September 5, 2016

The ISO Public Protection Classification (PPC) program works with fire departments to analyze and measure their performance in the community.

BCEGS® Spotlight: Washington County, Maryland

By Dale Thomure
September 3, 2016

) program rates the effectiveness and enforcement of building codes in communities throughout the United States.

ISO announces new logo

September 2, 2016

Over the years, you’ve come to know ISO Community Hazard Mitigation for our data collection and analysis, particularly related to our Public Protection Classification (PPC) and Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) programs.

I never saw that coming — Cancer in the fire service

By Tom Weber
September 1, 2016

The situation has become so dire that 33 states and 9 Canadian provinces made cancer a presumptive job-related injury.

Have a suggestion?

We welcome your feedback.
If you have questions or would like to suggest a topic, call us at 1-800-444-4554, option 2.

ISO Fire Suppression Rating Schedule

Our Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS) is free to chiefs and other fire officials. It's a manual containing the criteria Verisk uses in reviewing the fire prevention and fire suppression capabilities of individual communities or fire protection areas. To recieve a copy of the FSRS, contact our National Processing Center at 1-800-444-4554 and select Option 2.

H2O and Verisk

Water supply and distribution systems are important factors in determining a community’s ISO Public Protection Classification (PPC®). We provide complimentary educational training and seminars to water providers and associations throughout the country. Contact Hugh Gibson, national water resources manager, at hugh.gibson@verisk.com for more information.

Other Verisk websites