Accreditation & ISO Rating

Fire Service Accreditation

Sumter County Fire & EMS is one of 301 agencies accredited by the Center for Public Safety Excellence Commission on Fire Accreditation International.

This accreditation is defined as “an all-hazard, quality improvement model based on risk analysis and self-assessment that promotes the establishment of community-adopted performance targets for fire and emergency service agencies.”

The officers of Sumter County Fire & EMS participate in the Center for Public Safety Excellence Commission on Professional Credentialing.

Professional Credentialing is defined as. “A career enhancement and development model that recognizes professional accomplishments and technical competence of fire and emergency service officers.” 

Click here for more information about CPSE and Fire Service Accreditation or Professional Credentialing.

Insurance Services Office (ISO) Public Protection Classification (PPC) program

The Insurance Services Office (ISO) Public Protection Classification (PPC) program collects information and data about the quality of public fire protection within the community.  Primary measures include emergency communications, fire department capabilities, water supply systems, and community efforts to reduce the risk of fire. Based upon this data, ISO assigns a PPC on a scale of 1 to 10. Class 1 ratings generally represent superior property fire protection and Class 10 ratings indicate a system that does not meet ISO’s minimum criteria.

Effective April 1, 2020; Sumter County Fire & EMS will be rated as a 3/3Y. 

This protection class ratings are applied in the following manner:  

  • Protection Class 3 in all areas (outside of the villages) that are within 5 miles of a staffed fire station and 1000 feet of a fire hydrant. 
  • Protection Class 8B in all areas within 5 miles of a staffed fire station but outside of 1000 feet of hydrant. (This is the “3Y”)
  • Protection Class 10W in areas that are  greater than 5 miles but not greater than 8 miles from a fire station that are within 1000 feet of a fire hydrant 
  • Protection Class 10 in areas that are greater than 5 miles from a fire station and greater than 1000 feet of a fire hydrant.

Click here for more information about ISO and their public protection classification program.

Many times an insurance company will ask for the distance from a property to the closest fire station and fire hydrant. Some underwriters utilize the Insurance Services Office (ISO) for determining risk to a particular property.

How to get an ISO Letter:

Submit your request in writing, by either fax at 352-689-4401, or e-mail the CIC. 

Please include in the request:     
  • Insured’s address
  • Your name
  • Your phone number

For more information about ISO letters, call 352-689-4400.