ISO Public Protection
Classification (PPC)
2025 ISO Evaluation Results
Effective May 1, 2026
What is ISO?
Independent Evaluation
The Insurance Services Office (ISO) is an independent
organization that evaluates municipal fire-protection
efforts across the U.S.
How It Works
ISO applies standardized Fire Suppression Rating
Schedule to score communities and assign a Public
Protection Classification (PPC).
1 Superior Protection
Highest possible rating
10 Minimum Criteria Not Met
Does not me FSRS Standards
Why This Matters for the Community
Cost Savings
Market Confidence
Public ROI
Supports lower insurance premiums over time, directly benefiting residential and commercial property owners.
Improves insurer confidence and market participation, ensuring competitive insurance options are available.
Demonstrates a tangible return on public investment in public safety services and infrastructure.
FSRS
100%
SCORE
Total score calculated on a 105.5-point scale
Fire Department 50%
Equipment, staffing, training, and geographic distribution of stations.
Water Supply 40%
Availability, pressure, maintenance and flow of water for firefighting operations.
Emergency Communications 10%
Dispatch systems, staffing levels, and CAD capabilities.
Community Risk Reduction +5.5 pts
Extra credit for fire prevention programs, public education, and investigations.
What Does ISO Evaluate?
2025 PPC Result – At a Glance
Final Classification
Class 02 / 2X
Total Score Achieved
82.30 / 105.5 points
Places Paso Robles among
top-tier fire protection
communities nationally
What Does Class 02/2X Mean?
Class 2: Properties within 5 road miles
of a station and 1,000 ft of water supply.
Class 2X: Properties within station
response area but beyond hydrant
distance.
Results are significantly better than
2020 ratings.
Emergency
Communications
2025 Performance Score 8.96/ 10
Enhanced 9-1-1 capabilities & modernized infrastructure Advanced Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) integration
Comprehensive GIS mapping integration for rapid locating Meets all NFPA 1221 performance benchmarks
Fire Department
2025 Performance Score 37.27/ 50
Enhanced Engine and ladder company coverage
Expanded deployment and operational readiness
Staffing and training improvements
Water Supply
2025 Performance Score 32.26/ 40
Hydrant network and high flow capacity
Regular inspection and flow testing documented
Reliable distribution system with redundancy
Sufficient storage capacity for fire flow
FSRS Category 2020 Score 2025 Score Improvement
Emergency Communications 8.15 8.96 +0.81
Fire Department 32.88 37.27 +4.39
Water Supply 33.72 32.26 -1.46
Community Risk Reduction -- -- +5.03
Overall Score 75.55 82.30 Significant Gain
Class 2 Range: 80.00 – 89.99 Points
2020 vs. 2025 Evaluation
Future Focus Areas
Emergency Communications
Fire Department
Company Personnel: 9.3 / 15
Training: 6 / 9
Deployment Analysis: 6.5 / 10
Water Supply
Telecommunicators: 3.2 / 4
Dispatch Circuits: 2.7 / 3
Supply System: 23 / 30
Inspection and Flow Testing: 6.2 / 7
Phase 3 – Training Classroom
THANK YOU!
Congressman Panetta: $500,000
Thank you for prioritizing public safety.
Thank you, community, for your
continued investment in public safety
Fire Department $20,195,788
Law Enforcement $11,629,711
Funding to Date
Ongoing Commitment
Fire Department
Law Enforcement
$5,462,360
$5,787,500
22 FTE
30 FTE
What Changed Since 2020
Modernized Communications
Expanded Risk Reduction Programs
Staffing Enhancements
Training Advancements
Water System Reliability