The Clanton Fire Department has seen many significant upgrades in the past decade. Among the most notable are the addition of a second station in south Clanton and the acquisition of a ladder truck.

But more than two decades had passed since the last time the department was evaluated by the Insurance Services Office, according to Fire Chief David Driver. These evaluations can change a city’s ISO rating, which is used by insurance companies to determine homeowner’s insurance premiums.

Clanton’s current rating is 6. The ratings are measured on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the best possible rating and 10 indicating no fire department at all.

The fire department is not the only community sector that is evaluated. The fire department’s equipment, staff and training accounts for just 50 percent of the score. Another 40 percent tests a city’s water system, and the remaining 10 percent looks at the local E-911 service.

Considering the upgrades made in recent years, it seems reasonable to guess that the ISO rating will improve. This would be good news for all of us; however, we do not know how much of an improvement it will be.

Driver said he hopes to know the results of the evaluation by this fall.

We hope our local leaders will continue to be proactive to seek out grant money and take the needed measures to make our city and county the best it can possibly be.