Jersey City (NJ) Fire Department Receives ISO Class 1 Rating

Photos by Ron Jeffers

Working hard to accomplish Chief of Department Steven Mc Gill’s goal, the Jersey City (NJ) Fire Department has received a Verisk Company ISO Class 1 rating. The agency celebrated with a ceremony at the Summit Avenue firehouse on May 4^th, which was also International Firefighter’s Day. City officials, utility representatives, and firefighters gathered to be commended by Kevin Kuntz, Vice President and Chief Engineer for ISO.

The Jersey City Fire Department, which celebrated its 150th year as a career department in 2021, is now in the top one percent of fire departments in the United States, according to the ISO. Mr. Kuntz stated that there are some 450 fire departments that possess a Class 1 rating. It can help lower insurance premiums for residents and businesses.

“We evaluate almost 39,000 fire protection areas across the country and just over 450 have achieved this Class 1 classification,” Kuntz said. “It has special meaning to us because the ISO is a Verisk Company and our headquarters actually are in Jersey City. Our colleagues come to work knowing we’re well protected.”

Chief Mc Gill said the department follows the standards set forth by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the American Waterworks Association. The Jersey City Fire Department has close to 700 uniformed members, protecting a growing city where the population is believed to soon reach 300,000. There are more than 200 high-rise buildings in the city, with many more on the drawing boards.

Retired city Deputy Chief Robert Cobb was a guest speaker. After his retirement, he went to work for the ISO and became National Director of Community Hazard and Mitigation. After Mc Gill was sworn in as Chief of Department, he contacted the retired ISO director for advice. The chief wanted to know what was needed to accomplish a Class 1 rating.

“He was on a mission,” Cobb said. He “made it happen.” “Everybody was doing more of something.”

Improvements and upgrades were were accomplished. This included equipment, staffing, certified training, a new police and fire computer aided dispatch system, inspections, public outreach, water infrastructure, and leadership from all levels of government.

It took some three years to accomplish, and now Chief Mc Gill is the proud leader of an ISO Class 1 fire department. Class 1 logos are being printed will be displayed on all fire apparatus and firehouse doors.