The Ypsilanti Fire Department recently earned an evaluation from the Insurance Services Office placing it among the top 2% of fire departments in Michigan and top 5% nationally for effectiveness and reliability of local fire protection services.
Since Ken Hobbs became chief of YFD in 2019, the department has continued to improve its ISO score.
“Three years ago we went from a four to a three and we’re like, that’s great, now can we sustain that?” Hobbs said. “The higher the number the worse it is, so you don’t want to go backwards.”
Hobbs previously served as both fire marshal and chief at the same time, balancing two roles at once. Hobbs said separating the positions, along with improvements in professional development, has helped improve the department’s score.
After waiting for several months to receive their score, Hobbs contacted a representative from ISO to ask about the delay.
“After getting it, I said, ‘Hey, is this legit?’ I told everybody, and they were shocked,” Hobbs said. He said YFD was surprised and excited to have earned a two, its best score to date.
The point system is based on several factors, including emergency communications, which make up 10% of the score, fire department capabilities at 50%, and water supply systems at 40%, among other variables.
A focus is also put on training, which is tracked through a software system, allowing each fire department to identify what training they need. Training in skills such as how to deal with high rises and forcible entry contributes to the score. The more training a fire department completes, the more points it can earn.
“You got to show not just some people are training; you got to show where everybody is doing this training, so everyone is getting treated equally as best as you can,” Hobbs said. “We try to keep it consistent.”
Hobbs said despite the YFD being a relatively small department with 21 staff members, he believes it has a good core group of people that train well together. He explained that they are able to capture good morale, which results in everyone wanting to come to work and complete their tasks.
“I think you can see that, guys and girls take pride in being here and what they do. We’re small and progressive,” Hobbs said. “We are here now; we are at a two, so now we are looking at ways to maintain this."
To improve ISO scores, fire departments should have a reserve apparatus: a backup fire truck used when a primary one is out of service. YFD trucks are currently considered front line apparatus because they are operated daily.
“When we can replace the tower, replace the engine, and be able to have an engine in reserve, then that will help improve that score,” Hobbs said.
Once the rating goes into effect August 2026, Hobbs urged members of the community to contact their insurance agents and tell them that they live in an area where their ISO score is a two. Their insurance rates should decrease because they live in a safer area, he said.
