The Lakewood Board of Fire Commissioners along with Fire Chief Jonathan Yahr are proud to announce that effective November 1, 2024, the Lakewood Fire District will achieve a significant improvement in its Insurance Services Office (ISO) Public Protection Classification (PPC) rating, moving from a rating of a Class 5 to a Class 3 rating (Class 1 is the highest rating; Class 10 is the lowest), which places the Lakewood Fire Department among the top fire departments in the nation. This accomplishment reflects our ongoing commitment to providing exceptional fire protection services to our community.
The independent ISO rating system is the nation’s preeminent indicator of a Fire Departments effectiveness. The Lakewood Fire Department’s Class 3 rating confirms our unwavering dedication to providing superior service, quicker response times, and comprehensive fire prevention strategies.
Chief Yahr attributes this accomplishment to the department’s dedicated team and the community’s ongoing support. “This reclassification is the result of years of hard work and a commitment to excellence. It reflects not only the capabilities of our firefighters but also the investment our community has made in fire protection infrastructure and resources,” said Chief Yahr. In recent years, the Lakewood Fire Department has substantially increased its numbers of full-time career firefighters; enhanced its equipment and training; improved its administrative and communication systems; updated its fleet; and instituted a number of innovative community outreach programs.
In addition to being a testament to enhanced safety for local residents, a better ISO rating is also expected to reduce home insurance costs for Lakewood’s property owners, as this is a key factor for insurance companies to calculate premiums in individual municipalities. The Lakewood Board of Fire Commissioners encourages all homeowners and business owners to contact their insurance brokers or providers to discuss potential reductions in their property insurance premiums. An improved ISO rating often translates to lower insurance rates, which can result in substantial savings for property owners.
The Board of Fire Commissioners along with Chief Yahr would like to extend their gratitude to Mayor Ray Coles, Township Committeeman and Emergency Services Liaison Meir Lichtenstein, and the entire Township Committee, local businesses, and the entire community for their support, which has been instrumental in enabling us to achieve this milestone.
