Last Updated on September 11, 2025 10:49 am
Town of Boone, North Carolina— State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor presented the Town ofBoone’s Fire Department and Rural Fire District's new Insurance Services Office (ISO) ratingduring the September 10th Boone Town Council Meeting. This rating was received after aroutine inspection, which takes place every five years. The inspection, conducted by officialswith the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), is required on a regular basis as part of the North CarolinaResponse Rating System (NCRRS). Among other things, the routine inspections look for properstaffing levels, sufficient equipment, proper maintenance of equipment, communicationscapabilities, and availability of a water source.
The Town of Boone Fire District, located within the Town of Boone’s jurisdiction boundaries,has received a “ISO Class 1” rating, and the Town of Boone Rural Fire District has received an“ISO Class 2/9E” rating. The NCRRS rating system ranges from 1 (highest) to 10 (notrecognized as a certified fire department by the state), with most rural departments falling intothe 9S category. While lower ratings do not necessarily indicate poor service, a higher ratingdoes suggest that a department is overall better equipped to respond to fires in its district. Higherratings can also significantly lower homeowners' insurance rates in that fire district.
“The residents of Boone and Boone Rural Fire District(s) can take comfort in knowing thishighly capable team of firefighters from the Boone Fire Department is safeguarding them andtheir belongings in the event of an emergency.” stated State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor. OSFMinspections are designed to assess various aspects of fire departments, including equipment,training, and emergency response capabilities, contributing to the overall effectiveness of fireservices in North Carolina. State law mandates inspections by OSFM officials for departmentsserving districts with 100,000 people or fewer.
The Town of Boone Fire District is one of 35 districts in North Carolina that have received an“ISO Class 1” rating, and is one of 350 within the nation. “We could not have achieved this ISOrating without the steadfast support of the Boone Town Council and the leadership across theTown of Boone. The dedication and professionalism of the Boone Fire Department, the BooneRural Fire District, and our partner agencies within the Rural Fire District response area wereinstrumental in this accomplishment. This recognition reflects the commitment of our personnelto fire suppression readiness, community risk reduction, emergency response capability, andoperational excellence. I am honored to serve as Fire Chief for such a highly skilled andmission-driven team, and I am confident that together we will continue to enhance ourcapabilities, sustain and improve our ISO classification, and uphold the highest standards of fireprotection and life safety for the Boone community.” – Chief Jimmy Isaacs, Fire Chief.
For more information regarding the ISO rating, please visit the Town of Boone’s website atwww.townofboone.net/fire.