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ISO Insurance Rating

The Seneca Fire Department has recently been issued an improved rating of CLASS 2 from a previous Class 3 for those INSIDE the City of Seneca.

The Seneca Fire Department has recently been issued a rating of CLASS 2/9* from a previous Class 3/9 for those OUTSIDE the City of Seneca yet still inside the county's contracted area known as the Seneca Fire District.

All municipalities graded by ISO now receive a municipal grade and a fire district grade.

Be sure to contact your insurance company or prospective insurance company to see if your premiums have been lowered with these improved ratings.

*If your insured structure is in the Seneca Fire District (not city limits) within five road miles from the Seneca Fire Station on W. South 4th Street and within 1,000 feet of a fire hydrant, you are Class 2. If you are farther than the values listed you are Class 9.

City of Seneca Fire Department Coverage Map to determine your rating.

Fire Department

ISO's Public Protection Classification Program

To help establish appropriate fire insurance premiums for residential and commercial properties, insurance companies need reliable, up-to-date information about a community's fire-protection services. ISO provides that information through the Public Protection Classification (PPCTM) program.

What is the PPC program?

ISO collects information on municipal fire-protection efforts in communities throughout the United States. In each of those communities, ISO analyzes the relevant data using our Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS). We then assign a Public Protection Classification from 1 to 10. Class 1 represents exemplary public protection, and Class 10 indicates that the area's fire-suppression program doesn't meet ISO's minimum criteria.

By classifying communities' ability to suppress fires, ISO helps the communities evaluate their public fire-protection services. The program provides an objective, countrywide standard that helps fire departments in planning and budgeting for facilities, equipment, and training. And by securing lower fire insurance premiums for communities with better public protection, the PPC program provides incentives and rewards for communities that choose to improve their firefighting services.

ISO has extensive information on more than 44,000 fire-response jurisdictions.

For more information please visit ISO's website.

ISO Ratings Compared Locally and Nationally

ISO’s Breakdown of Oconee County Fire Departments

Community/City 1000 ft. of fire hydrant and within 5 road miles of fire station Over 1000 ft. of fire hydrant and/or Over 5 road miles of fire station
Seneca – Inside City Limits All areas of the City are a Class 3 All areas of the City are a Class 3
Seneca – Outside City Limits 2 9
Oakway 7 9
Salem 7 9
Corinth Shiloh 7 9
Mountain Rest 7 9
Walhalla – Inside City Limits All areas of the City are a Class 4 All areas of the City are a Class 4
Walhalla – Outside City Limits 4 9
Westminster – Inside City Limits All areas of the City are a  Class 5 All areas of the City are a  Class 5
Westminster – Outside City Limits 5 9
Fair Play 5 5
Long Creek 9 9
Cleveland  9 9
Keowee-Ebeneezer 7 7
Friendship 5 9
Cross Roads 8 10
Pickett Post-Camp Oak 7 9
South Union 7 10
West Union 5 9
Keowee 4 4
Station 21 (County Paid Station) No Credit No Credit

ISO’s Breakdown of S.C. Fire Departments

Class 1 4
Class 2 33
Class 3 61
Class 4 126
Class 5 164
Class 6 113
Class 7 84
Class 8 19
Class 8B 0
Class 9 71
Class 10 3

ISO’s Breakdown of U.S. Fire Departments

Class 1 57
Class 2 538
Class 3 1,878
Class 4 4,403
Class 5 7,749
Class 6 8,778
Class 7 6,057
Class 8 2,409
Class 8B 644
Class 9 13,611
Class 10 1,524