ISO Rating More Than Meets The Eye, Fire Boss Says

SPRING HILL - The county fire department's latest improvements in its ISO rating was a source of debate during Wednesday's district fire meeting.

One resident, David Green, pointed out how Hernando County's 911 dispatch center finished better than Spring Hill's - 9.9 (out of 10) versus a 9.4 - following the evaluation from the Insurance Services Office (ISO).

"I wonder what our ISO rating would have been if we had scored a 9.9 using their (dispatch center)," Green said.

He referred to the district's choice last year to continue with its own emergency call center. The City of Brooksville merged with the county to have all emergency calls channeled to one call center. Spring Hill declined to join them.

The district's decision not to merge drew criticism from some county commissioners and the sheriff.

Supporters of the district have pointed to its ISO rating as proof of how efficiently the department has been managed and how effectively it distributes its fire services to its residents.

In the past, the county has not scored as well.

Three months ago, ISO representatives graded the county's department on a variety of categories - communications, water supply, equipment quality, etc.

The department's rating had been a Class 5. It was announced last week it improved to a Class 3. The new score places HCFR within the top 15 percent of Florida's departments.

When the news broke, there was hope from residents it would lower their insurance rates.

In response to Green's comments, Spring Hill fire commissioner Leo Jacobs said the district's 3 rating is different than the county's in that it accounts for every square mile of Spring Hill.

The eastern region of the county, Jacobs argued, did not have the same rating. The county's score is "incremented," he said.

"I don't want people to be misled," he continued, criticizing the local press for not explaining the ratings further. "There's misinformation out there that hasn't been challenged."