Savannah fire departments earn improved PPC ratings, effective April 2026

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The City of Savannah and the Savannah Rural Fire Departments have announced new public protection classification (PPC) ratings from the Insurance Services Office. 

Beginning April 1, 2026, hydranted areas will receive a Class 4 rating, while unhydranted, water-hauled areas will be rated 5/10. 

According to a news release, these improved ratings are the result of thousands of hours of firefighter training, equipment upgrades, faster and effective emergency responses and strong support from the residents within the fire district. 

“We were notified that our rating had been returned to a four for the hydraneries for the city of Savannah after losing a rating in the summer of 2024,” said David Vincent, Savannah's Fire Chief.

Vincent explained that regaining the rating took a lot of hard work, but it was worth it for the community.  

He noted that these ratings directly impact how much homeowners and business owners pay for insurance, which is why keeping the number low is so important.  

“The lower the rating, the better it is, so going from a five to a four, we are hoping that it makes a significant change for our taxpayers,” Vicent said.  

Vincent also emphasized that the community recognizes the effort the department put into achieving this milestone.  

He said many people dedicated countless hours to the process, calling it a major accomplishment for everyone involved.  

He specifically pointed to his colleague, Tom Sontheimer, for his dedication to the contribution.  

“He is a volunteer in this department. He spent a lot of his own time to get us back to the rating of where we wanted it to be at,” Vincent said.  

Captain and training officer Tom Sontheimer explained that the entire rating process is guided by a detailed, 69-page document from ISO, which outlines what departments must do to improve their score.  

“It's very detailed, it revolves around water supplies, number of firemen, equipment and communication center, so there area multitude of fractions that affect how the final rating is determined,” Sontheimer said.  

Sontheimer added that the department feels fortunate to have upgraded equipment that allows them to do their jobs effectively.  

Looking ahead, he said the department’s next goal is to see if it’s possible to move from a four to a three.  

“This would be better for the taxpayers. The reduction in the ratings hopefully benefits the homeowner’s insurance and the commercial property owner’s insurance because that would be our number one goal,” Sontheimer said.  

The City of Savannah and the Savannah Rural Fire Department serve about 10,000 residents across 156 square miles. The department operates four stations and has a roster of 50 members, 48 of whom are volunteers.