In August 2011, the Bonham Fire Department scheduled a Fire Protection Rating Schedule with the Insurance Services Office (ISO).  The national rating schedule is a local evaluation of public building size and locations, the receiving and handling of fire alarms, available water supply, and fire department staffing, equipment, training, and geographic locations.  This evaluation leads to determining a Public Protection Classification or PPC. 

Most insurance companies use a community’s PPC rating for marketing, underwriting, and to help establish fair premiums for homeowners and commercial fire insurance.  In general, the price for fire insurance in a community with a good PPC is substantially lower than a community with a poor PPC, assuming all other factors are equal.  A PPC rating is a number on a 1 to 10 scale.  The lower the number, the better the area’s fire suppression program has been determined to be.

Previously, the City of Bonham and Bonham Fire Department had a PPC of Class 6.  Now, we are pleased to announce that the PPC has been lowered to a Class 3.  This ranks the Bonham Fire Department in the top 5% of fire departments in the United States.

Bonham’s new PPC will affect most every home and business owner who live within five road miles from either Bonham Fire Department station and within 1000 feet of a fire hydrant.  The PPC for those residing outside these two criteria will remain a Class 9. 

The Texas Department of Insurance does not require insurance companies to base their premiums solely on a PPC rating but the majority of them do.  The ISO publishes new PPC’s quarterly so Bonham citizens and area residents should see a reduction in their insurance premiums starting in July 2012.  There are many factors that affect one’s insurance premium but it is estimated that a reduction in PPC from a Class 6 to a Class 3 will save approximately 10.9% in homeowner insurance premiums.

A reception will be held at Bonham City Hall on Monday February 13, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. to officially announce the Class 3 PPC.  Please join us for the celebration.  For more information on ISO or PPC, please contact Fire Chief Brad Nichols at (903) 640-4191.