SHAES Fire Protection Rating Improves

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The Insurance Service Office has upgraded the fire protection rating for the area served by South Haven Area Emergency Services as of March 1, 2023. SHAES executive director Brandon Hinz says by securing lower fire insurance premiums for communities with better public protection, the Public Protection Classification program “provides incentives and rewards for communities that choose to improve their firefighting services.” The ISO rating typically appears on a property owner’s insurance bill. Property owners are encouraged to contact their insurance carrier should this change not be reflected on a future bill. The ISO rating is a numerical grading system and is one of the primary elements used by the insurance industry to develop premium rates for residential and commercial businesses. It analyzes data using a Fire Suppression Rating Schedule and then assigns a Public Protection Classification from 1 being the best to 10. ISO has rated the area protected by SHAES a Class 3/5. The previous rating established in 2016 was 4/6. In 2004 it was 5/6. SHAES marked its 25th year in 2021. The department is comprised of 16 fulltime staff and 25 paid-on-call firefighters protecting 97 square miles of land and several miles of Lake Michigan shoreline from three stations. In 2021 the department responded to a record 2,592 fire, emergency and medical calls. The department is on pace this year to set a new response record.