To reduce homeowner and business insurance premiums, the District invited the insurance industry to conduct an  audit of the community's capability to response to a house fire or business on fire.

The insurance industry, represented by the Insurance Services Office (ISO), has a Public Protection Classification (PPC) system that after a field audit assigns a number from 1 to 10 to a community--a 1 being the best possible protection and 10 being the worst possible protection. Communities with a Class 10 pay the highest possible insurance premiums while communities with a Class 1 pay the least possible insurance premiums.

The Tightwad Fire Protection District was entirely a Class 10 because until 2021 the District did not have a pumper truck capable of pumping enough water for a structure fire. 

Former Fire Chief Charles L. Willis worked with the National Fire Services Office (NFSO) to evaluate and assist the District to reduce it's ISO classification, first from a Class 10 to a Class 9 and then a Class 9 to as far as a Class 6 maybe some day!

Click here to read the initial assessment report from NFSO.

For every ISO Class the District improves, it is estimated that the community can collectively save between $170K-$255K--money that will stay in the community instead of going to the insurance companies.  Individual home and business owners would save an estimted $250-$500 per year. The Leesville R-IX School District should also see signficant reduction in premiums to protect the School District's buildings.

Unfortunately, residents beyond 5 miles form the fire station in Tightwad will continue to be Class 10 until a pumper is purchased for the fire station in Coal (see the map below).

However, the Board of Directors and the current Fire Chief and chief officers are working to achieve a Class 9 or better throughout the District.