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Orland Fire District honored for readiness and efficiency with ISO1 recognition
Officials of the nation’s leading property & casualty insurance risk assessment, Verisk, presented officials of the Orland Fire Protection District with the organization’s highest honor, ISO 1.
The ranking reflects an evaluation of more than a dozen aspects of the efficiency and effectiveness of more than 39,000 fire districts in 45 of the nation’s states. Only 1 percent receive the ISO1 Rating which directly impacts insurance costs for properties in the receiving district.
The ISO ratings range from 1, the highest, to 10, the lowest. Higher ratings have a potentially greater impact on reducing insurance costs for businesses and residents.
In the more than 600 fire departments and districts in Illinois, only 29 have received the ISO1 Rating, Verisk officials said, noting Illinois has the highest number of ISO1 ranked fire organizations.
Randall Downs, a manager with Verisk Analytics, accompanied by Field Representative Irene Tiscareno, presented OFPD Fire Chief Michael Schofield and the district with the official recognition, noting that only 1 percent of the nation’s fire districts meet the stringent requirements for the highest rating award.
The evaluation includes detailed assessments of a fire district or department’s ability to respond to fires and emergencies, the efficiency of communications, the quality of training and the performance of firefighters and paramedics, as well as the involvement of the district’s personnel in the communities they serve.
Another important criteria, is the availability and quality of water delivery by local villages, saying the water delivery and availability of water in Orland Park and Orland Hills is among the highest rated, meaning water is available to deal with fires anywhere in the district.
Accepting the award at the official presentation at the OFPD Administration board room Thursday, January 18, 2024, were Fire Chief Michael Schofield and Orland Park Village Manager George Koczwara. They were accompanied by Deputy Fire Chief Nick Cinquepalmi, OFPD Fire Marshal Michael Ercoli, and OFPD Commissioner Donald Jeffers. Also present were Operation Chiefs Erick Johnson and John Purtill.
Chief Schofield expressed the gratitude of all of the district’s personnel saying they all work hard, in cooperation with Orland Park and Orland Hills, to ensure that residents and businesses receive the highest and most professional fire protection and life saving services.
“We couldn’t have done it without all the people here today. We couldn’t have done it without the support of the villages in our district, Orland Park and Orland Hills,” Schofield said expressing his gratitude to the support received from the Village of Orland Park which is the largest portion of the fire district served.
“The village has bent over backwards to make the water system the best in the region and I’d like to thank George Koczwara for that support.”
For more information on the Orland Fire Protection District visit www.OrlandFire.org.
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Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
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