By Fox23.com News Staff
TULSA, Okla. — The Tulsa Fire Department has earned the highest fire protecting rating available for the second time.
TFD earned an Insurance Services Office (ISO) Public Protection Classification (PPC) of Class 1.
The designation was first achieved by TFD in 2019, and the department has maintained the classification following ISO’s most recent five-year evaluation.
ISO evaluates the fire suppression capabilities using its Fire Suppression Rating Schedule, which results in a PPC rating ranging from Class 1, representing superior fire protection, to Class 10, indicating no recognized protection.
TFD said these ratings are widely used by insurance companies when underwriting residential, commercial and industrial property policies.
While insurance premiums are set independently by each insurer, communities with stronger fire protection capabilities may be eligible for more favorable insurance pricing.
TFD said the department’s continued Class 1 rating places it among an elite group nationwide.
As of Nov. 27, only 502 of more than 37,500 rated communities in the United States, less than 1.34 percent, hold a Class 1 rating. In Oklahoma, Tulsa is one of the nine communities with the designation.
TFD said maintaining this rating reflects a sustained, multi-year commitment and a coordinated municipal effort involving the Tulsa Fire Department, the Water Department’s water supply and hydrant infrastructure and Public Safety Communications.
ISO’s evaluation is grounded in nationally recognized standards, primarily those of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The rating serves as external validation for residents and businesses.
ISO recommends reevaluation every five years and Tulsa’s history reflects continuous improvement over more than a decade, progressing from a Class 3 in 2011, to Class 2 in 2017, achieving Class 1 in 2019 and maintaining Class 1 in the 2025 evaluation, TFD said.
The next evaluation is expected in 2029.
As part of the 2025 evaluation, TFD achieved the maximum score for its fire deployment model by using the Systematic Performance Evaluation, which measures response times against NFPA standards for every structure fire.
TFD said the data-driven approach more accurately reflects real-world performance and has since been incorporated into internal response standards.
Additional improvements were implemented following the evaluation, including enhanced training documentation aligned with ISO requirements, updated hydrant inspection procedures to include pressure testing, real-time hydrant flow data for incident commanders and a centralized, GIS-based fire company inspection system accessible to all field personnel.
“Maintaining an ISO Class 1 rating is a tremendous accomplishment and reflects the dedication, professionalism and teamwork of the men and women of the Tulsa Fire Department,” said Fire Chief Michael Baker. “This rating is the result of years of commitment to training, preparedness, infrastructure and collaboration across the city. We’re proud that our continued efforts provide Tulsa residents and businesses with the highest level of fire protection possible.”
