HBF classifcation places the department in "top 4% of agencies nationwide and top 20% of fire agencies in California."

Humboldt Bay Fire (HBF) is pleased to announce that ISO (Insurance Services Office) has classified Humboldt Bay Fire as a Class 2 Public Protection Classification fire agency following a comprehensive analysis of our community structural fire suppression delivery system in 2022. 

The ISO rating is used to measure the quality and effectiveness of fire protection in a community. The rating scale ranges from 1 (one) to 10 (ten) with a Class 1 being the best score possible. A Class 2 agency allows residential and commercial property owners the opportunity to obtain lower insurance rates along with receiving exemplary fire protection services. 

HBF has been working over the years to improve the services provided to the community. Prior to our consolidation starting in 2011 the Humboldt #1 Fire Protection District maintained a Class 4 rating, and the Eureka Fire Department maintained a Class 3 rating. As a JPA we received a rating of Class 3/3X in 2015. 

Fire Chief Sean Robertson stated, “The Class 2 rating for HBF reflects the hard work and dedication of our suppression personnel, staff, HBF Board of Directors, City of Eureka Council and staff, Humboldt #1 Fire Protection District Board, and Humboldt Community Services District. This rating will help to reduce insurance premiums for businesses and residents in the HBF jurisdiction. It is also an industry standard evaluation and places us in the top 4% of agencies nationwide and top 20% of fire agencies in California.”

With this classification, HBF is listed among an elite group of agencies as one of only 1,964 to achieve the Class 2 rating in the United States, out of over 49,000 communities surveyed. There are 173 departments in California that have been awarded a Class 2 rating. 

As part of its evaluation, the ISO collects information on fire-protection efforts in communities throughout the U.S. ISO’s Public Protection Classification (PPC) Program helps establish appropriate fire insurance premiums for residential and commercial properties and provides insurance companies with reliable, up-to-date information about a community’s fire protection services.  

The formal assessment process consisted of three major areas:  

1. Fire Agency (staffing, equipment, training, and emergency response capabilities, as well as Community Risk Reduction activities) – HBF has 5 stations, three owned by the City of Eureka, 2 owned by Humboldt #1 Fire Protection District 

2. Water supply system (highlighting the water supply a community uses for fire suppression) – HBF relies on the City of Eureka and Humboldt Community Services District water supply systems 

3. Fire alarm and communications system (which centers on facilities and support for handling and dispatching alarms) – HBF is dispatched by the Eureka Police Department and Humboldt Bay Fire Emergency Communications Center.

The ISO evaluation of the fire agency accounts for 50 percent of the rating, water supply systems account for 40 percent, and the agency’s communication system accounts for 10 percent. 

“We are determining what further improvements we can make to be upgraded to a Class 1.  Thank you for all your efforts and support in making us a better fire agency!” - Chief Robertson. 

(About the ISO: ISO is a New York-based advisory organization that serves the property and casualty insurance industry by providing inspection services, insurance coverage from development and statistical services. ISO is a leading supplier of statistical, underwriting and actuarial information for the property/casualty insurance industry.)