CORDOVA – The City of Cordova’s ISO fire rating will soon be upgraded from Cass 4 to Class 3, starting Nov. 1
Fire Chief Dean Harbison announced the positive news during the Tuesday, Aug. 8, Cordova City Council meeting. The ISO improvement ties Cordova with Sumiton for the best rating in the county, “a remarkable achievement for an all-volunteer fire department,” Harbison said.
Harbison explained that the ISO fire rating scale ranges from 1 to 10, with 1 being the best and 10 being the worst. He noted that it’s rare for volunteer departments to achieve a rating below Level 5. Since Harbison assumed the role of fire chief in 1999, the department’s ISO fire rating has been reduced three times, from Class 8 to Class 7, then to Class 4 in 2016, where it has remained for the past seven years.
“The improvement can be attributed to advancements in all areas, with training likely being the most significant factor,” he said.
Harbison highlighted improvements in equipment, water supply and communication with Walker County E-9-1-1. He praised the city’s assistance in acquiring equipment and the volunteers’ dedication to training.
Mayor Jeremy Pate added that the new rating would help reduce homeowner insurance rates for local residents. He thanked Harbison and his team of volunteers for their commitment.
“This will definitely help our city in several ways from Insurance costs for residents to making us more attractive to new home builders,” Pate said.
