Kittanning Hose Co. #1 Completes ISO Audit

by Jonathan Weaver

After receiving a two-week directive from Kittanning Borough council members Monday, Kittanning Hose Company #1 leaders quickly arranged for their ISO testing – which was completed Friday afternoon.

Borough Fire Marshal “Buzz” Kline at the Borough meeting said the testing determines fire insurance rates for homeowners and businesses during the next five years. Hose Company #4 and #6 leaders submitted and held ISO audits March 25

“They come in once every five years and do an audit on the hydrant system, fire equipment, fire training, response times and the number of people that are out at the fires – that’s put into a system statewide and it tells you what the ISO rating is for the next five years, Kline said during last week’s regular meeting.

“The higher you go, the more it’s going to cost. The lower you go, the better rates you’re going to get.”

Starting about 2PM Friday, ISO (Insurance Services Office) Community Hazard Mitigation Services Field Representative Tyler Olsen reviewed Hose Company #1 statistics, material and equipment with Fire Chief Gene Stephens.

Along with up-to-date air pack and apparatus certifications and log books, Olsen – who has also been Lower Burrell Fire Chief for six months and is a 14-year volunteer - looked over the department’s 1987 Seagrave engine, 1990 Mack Baker Aerialscope tower and 1997 GMC Service squad truck.

Olsen said it is a common misconception that the age of apparatus determines insurance rates

“As long as your insurance company will insure it, I don’t mettle in that. It has to meet requirements from the day it rolls off the factory floor – that is all we go by.”

Olsen inspects fire companies across Western Pennsylvania (including Hose Company #4 and #6) and into West Virginia, and said a letter will be sent to community officials before the final report is filed in three to six months.

“As soon as I put this in the computer and send it off, we’re in good shape,” Olsen said.

Chief Stephens said everything was available Olsen asked for, except for documentation of regular in-house or region-wide training – which he has pledged to keep track of now in a logbook.

“I had all of our inspections, certifications, fire calls, everything else he asked for. We walked around – he wrote down all the equipment that was on the trucks and he did not say we needed to add anything,” Chief Stephens said.

“45 minutes in-and-out of here, and it went great.”

Chief Stephens said paperwork to prepare for the ISO rating came out “months ago,” but the documentation was taken to a department member’s home. He took full responsibility for the audit not being conducted earlier.

“We’ve had so much stuff going on in the past couple months – with the Trout Derby and the (Waves of Thunder motorcycle show). I knew it had to be done, but I had some personal issues to take care of and I totally forgot about a lot of stuff,” Chief Stephens said. “It was not something I was avoiding – it was just something I totally forgot about.

“I got it done – (Olsen’s) satisfied, I hope Council’s satisfied. (Olsen) didn’t say anything about it being late or anything like that – I explained to him what was going on and he said ‘Chief, don’t worry about it.’”

Besides the fire departments, insurance rates are also based on the water department and the area 9-1-1 center in Rayburn Township. Kittanning Borough currently maintains a “4” rating.

Kline – also Hose Company #4’s fire chief – said it also took the department about 45 minutes to go through the process.

First Ward Borough Councilman David Croyle also attended a portion of the audit inspection, and praised Hose Company #1 for their quick compliance.

“I am pleased that the fire department was able to have the audit complete in less than five days after our meeting,” Croyle said. “Since the last time the audit was completed was 1999, it was something that needed to be done for a long time to insure our local homeowners get the best insurance rates possible.”

Croyle and First Ward Councilwoman Betsy Wilt were the only two that voiced their opposition to the two-week deadline, opting to give the volunteer department 30 days to complete the audit.

“I know how volunteer organizations work. Sometimes it takes additional time to comply with a request by the time they hold a meeting and discuss the situation,” Croyle explains. “Giving two weeks’ notice is not fair to any volunteer organization, which is why Miss Wilt and I felt 30 days was more appropriate.”

According to Armstrong 9-1-1, the largest demand on fire station resources in Kittanning Borough from the beginning of the calendar year until last week was from Hose Company #1 – who were activated for 75 calls. During the same time frame, Hose Company #6 station resources were activated to 51 calls and Hose Company #4 was activated for 36 calls.

“Hose Company Number 1 responds to more calls than any of the three fire departments. I believe they are an asset to the business district and the residents of the First Ward. I commend them for their professionalism and dedication,” Croyle concluded. “All three of our departments faithfully serve this town and I join the residents in saying ‘thank you’ for your service.”

Olsen indicated ISO audits will be now conducted every five years.

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