In August of 2011, the North Greece Fire District was notified by ISO that the Public Protection Classification rating for our District had improved from a Class 4/9 to a Class 3. This is a significant improvement from our previous Class 4/9 rating. The new rating took effect December 2011.

A Class 3 rating indicates much hard work has gone into proving to ISO that a community is well protected from a major fire. A split rating, such as the Class 4/9 rating that we were awarded in December 1989, meant that in certain areas of our District homes or commercial businesses were located further than 1000 feet from a fire hydrant. In our case, ISO determined some areas in our District found in the Town of Parma did not have enough hydrants and those properties were affected by this lower rating. The good news is that with this new rating all properties in the District are rated Class 3.

To help establish appropriate fire insurance premiums for residential and commercial properties, insurance companies need reliable, up-to-date information about a community’s fire protection services. Insurance Services Office (ISO) provides that information through their Public Protection Classification (PPC) program. ISO collects information on municipal fire protection in communities throughout the United States. In each of those communities, ISO analyzes the relevant data using their Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS). ISO has collected information on more than 47,000 fire response jurisdictions and that number includes almost 2,500 fire departments in New York State. ISO uses this data to assign a Public Protection Classification from 1 to 10. Class 1 generally represents superior property fire protection, and Class 10 indicates that the area’s fire-suppression program doesn’t meet ISO’s minimum standards.

ISO’s rating program is an objective, country-wide standard. A better rating from ISO provides insurance companies a way to reward the residential and commercial property owners with lower fire insurance premiums when a community provides a better level of fire protection. Insurance companies are allowed to use their own criteria to determine what they’ll actually charge for a fire insurance premium but New York State requires them to at least consider an ISO rating as a part of that determination.

In the insurance business, if a community goes to a Class 3 rating it means ISO has determined there has been a significant improvement to how well property in the District is protected. For some insurance companies it may be true that going from a Class 4 to a Class 3 may not yield much of a reduction in premium dollars but that may not be the case for your insurance company. It’s also pretty clear that if your residential property goes from a Class 9 to a Class 3 or even if a commercial property goes from a Class 4 to a Class 3 there may very well be a healthy reduction in fire insurance premium.

I’d like to encourage you to ask your insurance agent what impact our improved ISO rating has on your fire insurance. I’d be interested on how you make out and willing to share your success on this web page. Just drop me an e-mail at smanchester @ northgreecefd.com and let me know how you made out.

Treasurer William Sommers is retiring after 36 years of service to the North Greece Fire District as Treasurer.  He was much more than a treasurer and will be greatly missed.  Walter Bedford is taking over as the District Treasurer.  Those are some pretty big shoes to fill!

Assistant Chief David Walker is retiring after 30+years of service.  He began in the Explorers, volunteered as a firefighter and was then hired as a firefighter.  After several years he took over the fire prevention program and became “Fireman Dave”.  That program really grew into the renowned program it is today under his care.  “Fireman Dave” then became Lt. Walker, Captain, and finally Assistant Chief.  He will be missed greatly at the North Greece Fire District but we all wish him well as his countdown clock stops and his future begins.

Commissioner Alphonse Camp decided to move on from his role of Fire Commissioner but will remain as a volunteer firefighter for North Greece.  He brought great professionalism and dedication to his seat on the commission.  Thanks for your 7 years of service!  Commissioner Alan DeCarlo was elected to fill this seat on the board.  Welcome Alan!  Commissioner DeCarlo’s term runs from 2012 to 2016.

Volunteer Chief Paul McManus just finished a three year term and will now be the Deputy Chief.  He brought a wealth of knowledge to the North Greece Fire Department.  Thank you Paul!  The new chief will be Patrick Meyers who served as the Deputy Chief in 2011.

Thanks to all of you; your dedication has been greatly appreciated.

When the 2011 drill team season started, there were many unanswered questions. How can we improve on a great 2010 season? 2010 was a season where we set a team record in C-ladder, and the team was awarded 2010 Most Improved Team, Most Improved Truck Team, Most Improved Foot Team, and Most Improved B-Truck team.  The biggest question was how are we going to replace key members that were unable to return in 2011? At the end of the season all those questions were answered in a way that most would have never dreamed. This was all accomplished with a new 3 man ladder team; a new driver, climber, and digger for B&C Ladder; a new driver, slacker, and nozzle man for B&C Hose; a new efficiency team; a new driver, hydrant man, and slackers for Motor Pump; and a new bucket team. All 8 events had new people in new spots. To the have the season we had with so many new people speaks great things about North Greece and the dedication of the team. Listed below are the accomplishments for the 2011 season.

2011 Most Improved Team – Art Heid Memorial Trophy

2011 Most Improved Truck Team – Duffy Mott Memorial Trophy

2011 Most Improved B Truck Team – Dutch Williams Memorial Trophy

2011 B Hose Total Points (tie w/Henrietta) – Paul Mascari Memorial

2^nd Place Total B Truck Points

2^nd Place Total B Ladder Points

2^nd Place Overall at Spencerport Drill

3^rd Place Overall at Main Transit Drill

1- 1st place trophy (B ladder at Main Transit)

7 – 2^nd place trophies

10 – 3^rd place trophies

**New Team Record** 102 Western NY Total Points

**New Team Record** in B Hose on 8/27/11 @ Point Pleasant

**New Team Record** in C Hose on 8/27/11 @ Point Pleasant

The North Greece Lil Squirts Drill Team would like to thank the North Greece Fire Department, North Greece Fire District, and North Greece family for all your support.

Dated March 19, 1922, the NGFD was incorporated May 22, 1922 just two months later.

Interesting stuff here about the formation of the fire district boundaries, the apparatus and its equipment. Look at the names of the members working on the committee, specifically the name of Albert Skinner. Some early members often disputed records listing Albert W. Skinner as one of our charter members. I think a newspaper story such as this clears up any question as to whether Mr. Al Skinner, Sheriff of Monroe County for 36 years was indeed one of our charter members.

Read also about the various water supplies listed including an 8-inch water main, ponds, creeks, springs, wells and cisterns. Eddy Road mentioned eventually became Mt. Read Blvd.

Many thanks to Alan and his cheers for sending this our way.
Gene Preston
Historian

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Fire / emergency apparatus will be staged in front of the school facing Latta Road. We request that all emergency responders attending the Remembrance Mass park in the north/west church parking lot near the library and the Paddy Hill School.

Each Greece F.D. Organization will also provide personnel to welcome people into church. After the service, all are welcome to meet at North Greece Headquarters where refreshments will be served. This Town wide Community event is being coordinated by the Ridge Road Fire District – for questions contact Randy Jensen at RRFD HQ’s.