Dupage Policy Journal

Calling the fire department’s new Class 1 ISO rating “an honor for the village of Westmont,” Mayor Ron Gunter recently expressed pride in Westmont’s top-notch emergency services and acknowledged the positive impact on local residents.

ISO, or Insurance Services Office, is a New Jersey-based company that works with state regulators using statistical data, claims and compliance among civic governments to assign Public Protection Classification. Along with its top score, Westmont’s fire department also attained accreditation.

Deputy Chief Steve Riley credited infrastructure improvements to the water supply and 9-1-1 dispatching for their role in the department’s rating; Chief David Weiss conveyed gratitude to personnel, noting that the rating is a first for any Illinois part-time/combination civic department.

“I want to thank all of our fire department personnel and village staff who have worked long and hard to make this happen,” Weiss said.

The achievement can translate to benefits for residents’ and businesses’ insurance policies by potentially lowering premiums.

“This is yet another reason to choose Westmont as a great place to live, work, raise a family and do business,” the mayor stated.

Using numerical scoring from 1 to 10, ISO assesses local jurisdictions’ fire departments nationwide. Only a couple of hundred fire departments — less than 1 percent of over 30,000 units — typically achieve 1, the highest possible rating.

“Over the last 35 years, I have been privileged to see the continuous improvement within the department,” Fire Department Deputy Chief James Connolly said. “We have come a long way from the days of responding from home when the pager went off.”

An official presentation at the village’s March 30 board meeting will include ISO representatives.