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The Springfield Fire Department has once again earned a Class 1 rating from the Insurance Services Office following the completion of the 2026 Public Protection Classification review.
ISO (Insurance Services Office) evaluates fire departments and the communities they serve based on several areas that contribute to fire protection, including emergency communications, water supply, department resources, deployment, training, equipment, operations, and Community Risk Reduction. Class 1 is the highest rating a community can receive. Communities are typically reevaluated every five to seven years, making the review a comprehensive assessment of changes and improvements made over time.
Springfield improved its overall score from 90.2 during the previous evaluation to 91.1 in the 2026 review, with improvements across several areas of the evaluation.
“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.”
Class 1 represents the highest level within ISO’s rating system and is achieved by only about one percent of the more than 47,000 fire protection areas evaluated nationwide.
One of the most significant improvements in Springfield’s score came in deployment and the department’s ability to reach areas of the city within established response time standards. Through the City’s investment in new fire stations, SFD was able to add Fire Station 13 and build a new Fire Station 8 farther west. Together, those changes expanded the department’s reach and improved response times, including several subdivisions on the west side that had previously fallen outside the four-minute response area used as part of the ISO evaluation.
“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.”
