By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–The Insurance Service Office has released the latest rating for the city of Helena’s Fire Department and the department was ranked near the top.

On Dec. 7, the city of Helena received the latest Public Protection Classification from ISO and it was one of the highest ratings the department has received in recent years.

The scale is based on a one-10 scale, with one being the best rating.

Helena earned its most recent ISO rating in June 2009, moving from a class five to a class three.

This year, after the Helena Fire Department’s latest review in August, the city’s rating has been upgraded to a class two.

The ISO rated 48,754 cities and communities nationwide in 2015. Of these 48,754 communities, 1060 were ranked, along with the city of Helena, as a class two. Only 132 communities earned the ISO’s highest rating of a class one.

A community PPC rating is dependent upon needed fire flows, emergency communications, fire department and water supply.

The grading is comprised of three sections including emergency communications that accounts for 10 percent of the classification, water supply system that accounts for 40 percent of the classification and fire department that accounts for 50 percent of the total classification.

On a scale of 100 points, communities earning 80.00 to 89.99 receive a class two rating and Helena earned a rating of 84.81.

The ISO’s Public Protection Classification program plays an important role in the underwriting process at insurance companies across the nation.

Most underwriters use PPC information as part of their decision making when determining what businesses to insure, coverage to offer and fees to charge for personal as well as commercial property insurance.