La Pine Rural Fire Protection District recently received a reduction in Public Protection Classification rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO), from Class 4 to Class 3, effective November 1st, 2025.  Public Protection Classification ratings range from 1 to 10, and are based on a number of criteria such as the effectiveness and availability of fire department resources, local water supply, and emergency communications systems.

The Public Protection Classification (PPC) rating plays an important role in the underwriting process at most insurance companies.  An insurance company independently determines the premiums it charges its policyholders, and may use different aspects of the ISO’s information on local fire protection to do so. The PPC also provides fire departments with an valuable benchmark, and is used by many fire departments when planning, budgeting, and justifying fire protection improvements.

La Pine RFPD’s reduction in PPC rating can be attributed to numerous changes and improvements we have achieved in the past 3 years, and have many positive implications for the future of the Fire District and its residents.  Due to the passing of Measure 9-157 in May of 2023, the Fire District is now able to staff a full-time offensive engine company and has not had to rely on our Mutual Aid partners as frequently as past years.  Additionally, Measure 9-157 enabled the Fire District to provide our staff with additional training hours and certifications, allowing our personnel to provide a higher level of service.  La Pine has also expanded the City’s water supply network, providing broader coverage and higher water flow for fire responses within the District’s fire response area.

It should be noted that the reduction in ISO PPC rating from 4 to 3 applies only to those areas of LPFD’s fire response area that are within five miles of a fire station and are hydranted.  Some areas, such as those that are five miles or less from a fire station and do not have a fire hydrant close by or those areas that are further than five miles from a fire station, also received a reduction in ISO PPC rating, but from 5 to 4. This is still very significant, as it shows that the improvements in fire protection to LPFD’s service area is not limited to those areas with readily available water supply.  The entirety of the community that the Fire District serves has benefited from these advances.

The City of La Pine has a fire hydrant system and the following communities also have ISO recognizable water systems and fire hydrants:  Sunriver Business Park, Caldera Springs, Crosswaters, Vandervert Ranch, Thousand Trails, Oregon Water Wonderland I, Oregon Water Wonderland II, River Meadows, Wild River, and Ponderosa Pines.

Please refer to a mapping program, such as Google Maps, to determine the mileage between a residence and the nearest fire station. To determine if a property is within La Pine Fire District’s response area, click here for map.

For a copy of the ISO letters for your insurance agent, please click on appropriate link below.

ISO 3 Letter

ISO 4 Letter

Station 101 – 51550 Huntington Road, La Pine 97739

Station 102 – 55785 South Century Drive, Bend 97707

Station 103 – 15990 Burgess Road, La Pine 97739

What is ISO and how can it affect my Insurance?

The Insurance Services Office, or ISO, is a New Jersey based, private data collection and risk analysis corporation. It collects data and then assigns a Public Protection Classification (PPC) from 1 to 10 to communities throughout the United States. This data is sold to insurance companies to help determine fire insurance premiums. The ISO Public Protection Classification (PPC) is a fire risk rating tool that was originally designed in the early 1900’s and is well suited for large commercial buildings in an urban environment. The ISO classification schedule is based on communications (911/dispatch) services (10%), water supply (40%), and then specific fire department resources (50%), and requirements of the sixth largest non-fire sprinklered building in the jurisdiction.