Summer 2017

While a helicopter hovering over a large-scale emergency scene isn’t an uncommon sight to most people, spotting a drone might be—but, it’s happening more and more.

Recently, ISO joined representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) to present the city of Palm Coast, Florida, with a plaque recognizing its recent achievement: earning a Class 4 rating from the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS).

By all accounts, the fire service is in the midst of a revolution driven by many factors, such as better risk reduction programs, new technology, changing fire risks, and health concerns. Fire departments must adapt to these changes to fulfill their mission of protecting communities. To get his perspective on the future of the fire service, Community Fire Protection News interviewed Fire Chief Michael R. Duyck, EFO, CFO, MIFireE, of Tualatin Valley (Oregon) Fire & Rescue (TVF&R).

When most people think of municipal services, they probably don’t think of words like “easy,” “convenient,” or “customer-friendly.” Milpitas, California’s Building and Safety Department is changing that dynamic. Through modern technology, they’re streamlining processes to make them simpler, easier to use, and more accessible to customers and professionals who work with them.

A community’s investment in fire mitigation is a proven and reliable predictor of future fire losses. Insurers recognize this and generally offer lower premiums in communities with better protection. To determine a community’s fire protection ability, many insurers rely on ISO’s Public Protection Classification (PPC) program, which evaluates and rates municipal fire protection efforts in communities throughout the United States.