Fire Department

The Town of Brookline Fire Department is proud to announce our designation as a Class 1 Town by the Insurance Service Office, the highest possible rating for a municipality.

The Insurance Service Office, ISO, rates cities and their fire departments by risk level between 1 and 10, with 1 being the highest designation available. Many insurance companies use the ISO designation to assess insurance premium rates for homeowners and businesses. A Class 1 city designation can equate to lower insurance premiums for our residents and business owners depending on their respective insurance carriers. Brookline was previously designated a Class 2 city

The ISO ratings primarily are based on:

• Fire department staffing, training, equipment and apparatus, station location and operations
• Community risk-reduction efforts, including public education and fire-prevention programs
• Water supply, including the volume of water available and the distribution of fire hydrants
• Emergency communications, including 9-1-1 dispatch

Of the 47,000 communities covered in the country there are 241 Class 1 Fire Departments nationally and Brookline is only the 6th Department in Massachusetts to obtain this ranking.

Acting Chief Robert Ward is proud that the department’s continual efforts to improve fire safety for Brookline residents and visitors have been recognized by an increased ISO class rating. Most important, a Class 1 rating tells members of the Brookline fire service that their contributions and dedication to service and training are recognized and valued. It should be a source of pride for the men and women of our department and the community as a whole.