Las Vegas’ fire safety rating at risk

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002 | 11:14 a.m.

A national insurance group says unless the Las Vegas Fire Department improves over the next year, it will downgrade the city's rating which, in turn, could have a potential effect on insurance premiums across the city.

The Insurance Services Office says the city fire department's preparedness has not kept pace with growth and is recommending immediate changes. The ISO rates fire departments nationwide which insurance companies use to help establish premiums for residential and commercial properties.

The ISO alleges that the city hasn't properly distributed fire engines and ladder trucks to meet the demands of growth. As well, the report says the city has problems with its dispatch system.

City officials say they'll work quickly to address ISO's findings so the department can maintain its high ranking.

"This is a very serious issue because they have taken Class 1 status (the highest rating) from some major departments," Fire Chief David Washington said Wednesday. "We hold the rating in high esteem, and our department is very proud of it, and certainly we want to maintain it."

The city -- which boasts its Class 1 rating on fire trucks and other equipment -- shares the high rating with the Clark County Fire Department and, of 45,000 surveyed fire departments nationwide, only 39 others have gained the coveted rating. The ISO rates departments on a scale of 1 to 10.

The rating won't change if the department develops a plan to correct the deficiencies. The department has 30 days to respond to the report and indicate whether it wants to make changes needed to retain the Class 1 status.

Washington said he has prepared a letter to the ISO that Goodman will authorize when he returns from Washington next week.

The department will then have 90 days to develop a plan to address the deficiencies and a year to correct them.

Washington said the department anticipated some of the problems as growth continues to outpace available services. In November 2000 it asked voters to approve a tax increase, which, on average, amounted to an extra $33 in property taxes on a $100,000 home over 30 years.

The fire initiative, which voters narrowly approved, will allow the department to build, equip and staff four new stations, expand three existing fire stations and replace fire engines, trucks and other equipment.

"Had the initiative not passed, we probably would not have made it," Washington said of the Class 1 rating. "Without the help from the taxpayers, we would have been in terrible shape."

Washington has started to make the changes that will help the department retain its Class 1 status.

The chief has ordered a new communications system that will allow the department to receive audible warnings if contact is lost with firefighters. In the past the warning had been in the form of a blinking dot on a computer screen, which could be overlooked by busy dispatchers, he said.

Also, Washington said, the city has purchased three new fire engines that will be housed in four new stations. The stations are expected to be completed later this year or in early 2003.

The ISO survey is paid for by insurance companies that use the rating to determine residential and commercial insurance rates. But not all insurance companies factor in the ISO rating; State Farm Insurance, Farmers Insurance and Allstate Insurance have their own methods for determining rates.

Brian Jones, an operations supervisor for State Farm's regional office, said it had used the ISO scores but decided it would be more cost-effective to create its own standards.

Lisa Sperry, a spokeswoman for Allstate's southwest region, said although the company does not use ISO rates, a change from Class 1 to Class 2 would be negligible. Homeowner insurance rates are based on the frequency of fire claims in the city, she said.

"If the rate were going to a 9 or 10, that would be a significant change," she said.

Dave Dasgupta, an ISO spokesman, said the rating is derived from a survey that examines the fire department itself -- station locations, equipment, personnel and training -- water supply and communications. The survey is conducted every 10 years to effectively gauge growth trends.

The city, according to the new report, scored 85.48 out of a possible 100. A score of 90 or higher is needed to secure the top rating.

"Class 1 is an exemplary level of protection," Dasgupta said. "Class 1 is a pretty exclusive designation, but Class 2 is very close to it."