Last Updated on September 11, 2025 10:49 am
Town of Boone, North Carolina— State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor presented the Town of
Boone’s Fire Department and Rural Fire District's new Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating
during the September 10th Boone Town Council Meeting. This rating was received after a
routine inspection, which takes place every five years. The inspection, conducted by officials
with the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), is required on a regular basis as part of the North Carolina
Response Rating System (NCRRS). Among other things, the routine inspections look for proper
staffing levels, sufficient equipment, proper maintenance of equipment, communications
capabilities, and availability of a water source.
The Town of Boone Fire District, located within the Town of Boone’s jurisdiction boundaries,
has received a “ISO Class 1” rating, and the Town of Boone Rural Fire District has received an
“ISO Class 2/9E” rating. The NCRRS rating system ranges from 1 (highest) to 10 (not
recognized as a certified fire department by the state), with most rural departments falling into
the 9S category. While lower ratings do not necessarily indicate poor service, a higher rating
does suggest that a department is overall better equipped to respond to fires in its district. Higher
ratings can also significantly lower homeowners' insurance rates in that fire district.
“The residents of Boone and Boone Rural Fire District(s) can take comfort in knowing this
highly capable team of firefighters from the Boone Fire Department is safeguarding them and
their belongings in the event of an emergency.” stated State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor. OSFM
inspections are designed to assess various aspects of fire departments, including equipment,
training, and emergency response capabilities, contributing to the overall effectiveness of fire
services in North Carolina. State law mandates inspections by OSFM officials for departments
serving districts with 100,000 people or fewer.
The Town of Boone Fire District is one of 35 districts in North Carolina that have received an
“ISO Class 1” rating, and is one of 350 within the nation. “We could not have achieved this ISO
rating without the steadfast support of the Boone Town Council and the leadership across the
Town of Boone. The dedication and professionalism of the Boone Fire Department, the Boone
Rural Fire District, and our partner agencies within the Rural Fire District response area were
instrumental in this accomplishment. This recognition reflects the commitment of our personnel
to fire suppression readiness, community risk reduction, emergency response capability, and
operational excellence. I am honored to serve as Fire Chief for such a highly skilled and
mission-driven team, and I am confident that together we will continue to enhance our
capabilities, sustain and improve our ISO classification, and uphold the highest standards of fire
protection and life safety for the Boone community.” – Chief Jimmy Isaacs, Fire Chief.
For more information regarding the ISO rating, please visit the Town of Boone’s website at
www.townofboone.net/fire.
