Everything within the corporate town limits of Collierville is classified as a Fire Protection CLASS 2, effective October 1, 2016. The rating is based on many factors, including the number of fire stations, fire hydrants and fire personnel, just to name a few. 

This rating follows detailed research and analysis over many months regarding the Town’s Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS), which measures the capabilities of a community’s ability to fight fires. Communities are given numerical grading on a scale from 1 to 10 with 1 representing the best fire protection capability. Collierville is one of about 1,000 cities in the United States with a Class 2 rating.

Every property owner in every city in Tennessee is affected by the Insurance Services Office Public Protection Classification (PPC™), more commonly called the ISO Rating. However, many people are not aware of how the classification affects their community. There is a direct correlation between lower ISO Ratings and reduced property loss due to fire. A community’s investment in fire prevention and suppression as represented by the ISO Rating is a proven and reliable predictor of future fire loss. Insurance companies use the ISO Rating as one component in establishing property insurance rates. A lower ISO Rating means property owners typically pay lower insurance rates than similar property owners in a community with a higher ISO Rating.

Frequently, many think the ISO Rating is the “fire department’s ISO Rating,” when it is more than that – it is a community ISO Rating. The benefits to communities are not just monetary. A lower ISO Rating means that the residents enjoy a higher level of fire protection, better response times, better trained firefighters, and an adequate water supply to protect high-value properties. A lower ISO Rating can be a factor in recruiting new businesses to a community since property insurance premiums are a cost of doing business, and a competitive insurance premium lowers overhead costs.

The ISO Rating also has a significant impact on Collierville’s economic development process. Collierville continually enhances and improves community assets in an effort to promote growth and commercial and economic development. A community that does not have adequate fire services are at a tremendous disadvantage over a community that does. The difference in commercial fire insurance premiums between a community with a lower ISO rating and a community with a higher ISO rating is significant and in many instances may prevent industry and corporate headquarters from locating in the community.

Mark King, Chief of Administration said, “I can attest to the hard work, stress, and late nights everyone put into this project to make it successful - especially Renee Langley, Fire Records Administrator and Tommy Kelley, Chief of Operations with whom deserve special credit. Achieving this excellent rating would not have been possible without the support and cooperation of Public Services Director, Bill Kilp, and Public Utilities Director, Tim Overly, who manage the infrastructure that is so critical to fire protection; Lieutenant David Townsend, who supervises the activities of the Police/Fire 9-1-1 Communications Center.”

What is a fire protection class?

A 10-category ranking or schedule of public fire protection of cities. The grading is currently maintained by the Insurance Services Office (ISO) for use in making fire insurance rates and to encourage local governments to maintain better fire fighting equipment and personnel. A city or town is ranked in one of the categories by receiving deficiency points for failing to meet established standards under each of these major headings: water supply, fire department, fire service communications, fire safety control, climate, and divergence between fire department and water supply. Fire Protection Class 1 is the best class (a city or town having fewer than 501 points), and Fire Protection Class 10 is the worst (more than 4,500 points)

 If I live outside the corporate limits in Collierville's Reserve Area, what is my fire protection class?

Please contact the Shelby County Fire Department Fire Marshal's Office at (901) 222-8070 and provide the specific address for verification.