The Hickory Fire Department will become one of the only fire departments in North Carolina to achieve a Class 1 fire protection rating, which could result in property owners saving money.
The rating, issued by the Insurance Services Office (ISO) and obtained by less than one percent of North Carolina's fire departments, determines how well a local fire department can protect its community. According to the city, a higher rating means the city is better able equipped to respond to fires, which will allow property owners and businesses to pay lower insurance premiums.
The rating applies to all three of the city's fire districts: Hickory, Brookford, and Hickory rural.
Chief Matt Hutchinson said the rating was the result of several years of work across multiple departments, including the city's Public Utilities Department and Catawba County Communications.