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By ZACHARY SEIFTER/ Staff Writer

The Thorsby Fire Department presented its ISO rating to the town council during a meeting on Nov. 15.

ISO ratings are given to fire departments as an overall rating of their safety. A Class 1 rating is the best one can receive. Thorsby received a Class 3 on its latest review.

ISO ratings can have an impact on prices for homeowner’s insurance in different communities.

Fire Chief Josh Parker told the council that he was pleased with a Class 3 rating. There would need to be some changes to improve that classification, changes that are not plausible at the moment for Thorsby’s fire department.

“That’s pretty good for a town of our size,” Parker said. “If we ever wanted to get that better, you’re talking about (improving) staffing and stuff like that, something that we’re not at right now.”

The rating is determined based on an evaluation of a department’s day-to-day operations. A number of factors determine a rating, such as the equipment a department uses, an evaluation of service records and the administration of hydrant flow tests.

“It’s a real strenuous audit that they do,” Parker said.

Along with presenting the ISO rating, Parker told the council that two recruits, Andre Nix and Ryan Harris, for the fire department had graduated from their 10-week program with Alabama Fire College in Tuscaloosa. They now have their certifications and can begin careers as firefighters.