This is a press release from the Statesboro Fire Department.
The Statesboro Fire Department is pleased to announce a major accomplishment for the community: earning an Insurance Services Office (ISO) Public Protection Classification (PPC) Class 1 rating, the highest classification in the ISO system.
The department received a score of 92.96 out of 105.5 possible points, placing Statesboro among a very small number of communities nationwide to achieve this distinction. The new rating takes effect on September 1, 2026, and will apply to properties within the city limits of Statesboro.
The ISO Public Protection Classification program evaluates a community’s fire protection capabilities, including emergency communications, fire department operations, water supply, and community risk reduction efforts. A Class 1 rating reflects exceptional performance in those areas and recognizes a department’s ability to protect lives and property through strong response capability, training, prevention efforts, and operational readiness.
Based on ISO’s 2026 published nationwide distribution of communities by PPC grade, only 517 out of 37,358 communities, about 1.4%, achieved a Class 1 rating. That places Statesboro in a very small group of communities across the country to receive the highest classification.
“I could not be prouder of the members of the Statesboro Fire Department,” said Fire Chief Tim Grams. “This Class 1 rating is the result of countless hours of training, preparation, and service. It reflects a culture of excellence that our personnel has built and sustained through hard work and accountability. They have earned this recognition, and they deserve to be recognized for the professionalism, pride, and commitment they bring to this department and to the citizens of Statesboro every single day.”
For the community, this rating represents more than an important milestone for the department. It reflects the strength of the city’s fire protection system and the work that goes into keeping residents, businesses, and visitors safe. In some cases, property owners may also see their insurance rates decrease depending on their carrier and policy.
