Springfield Fire Department Retains Class 1 ISO Rating

The Springfield Fire Department has again earned a Class 1 rating from the Insurance Services Office following completion of the 2026 Public Protection Classification review.

Class 1 is the highest rating available through the ISO system and is achieved by about one percent of the more than 47,000 fire protection areas evaluated nationwide.

ISO evaluates fire departments and the communities they serve in areas including emergency communications, water supply, department resources, deployment, training, equipment, operations and Community Risk Reduction. Communities are typically reevaluated every five to seven years.

Springfield improved its overall score from 90.2 during its previous evaluation to 91.1 in the 2026 review, with improvements recorded in several areas.

“Maintaining a Class 1 rating is a tremendous accomplishment and a reflection of our continued investment in public safety,” said Mayor Misty Buscher. “Our firefighters work every day to protect the people of Springfield, and the improvements reflected in this evaluation show that our investments in our fire department and our community are making a difference. I am proud of the men and women of the Springfield Fire Department and their commitment to providing the highest level of service to our residents.”

One of Springfield’s most significant improvements came in deployment and the department’s ability to reach areas of the city within established response time standards.

The addition of Fire Station 13 and construction of a new Fire Station 8 farther west expanded the department’s reach and improved response times. The changes brought several west-side subdivisions that had previously fallen outside the four-minute response area used in the ISO evaluation into that area.

“We already knew we had an excellent department and great people, but it is rewarding to have an independent evaluation like this back that up,” said Springfield Fire Chief Nick Zummo. “This was a year long process that looked at nearly every aspect of how we provide fire protection in Springfield. The results show we continue to get better, but we also know there is more we can do. We have already identified areas to focus on, and that work will continue. I am very proud of the men and women of this department and all they do for Springfield.”