A City Ready to Answer the Call. Mayor Her Marks Historic Public Safety Achievement

In 90 minutes on Aug. 22, Saint Paul firefighters responded to three separate house and apartment fires across the city. They contained a fire in an apartment, rescued an adult woman and a toddler from a burning duplex, and worked to keep a third fire from spreading to a neighboring home. Three emergencies. Three neighborhoods. One fire department working to protect lives and property while continuing to provide emergency service throughout Saint Paul. It is the kind of day that tests a city's public safety system. It is also the kind of work that Mayor Kaohly Her says residents should be able to count on every day.

Saint Paul has earned an Insurance Services Office (ISO) Class 1 rating, the highest possible classification for fire protection. Saint Paul is currently the only fire department in Minnesota to hold the distinction. The rating provides independent recognition of the people, equipment, infrastructure, and coordination that make the city's emergency response possible.

"For our residents and businesses, this recognition means they can count on a public safety system built to respond when it matters most," Mayor Her said. "It reflects the work of our firefighters and the coordination across city departments that makes their response possible."

The Aug. 22 fires offer a glimpse of what that coordination looks like in practice. At the second fire, crews entered a burning duplex and rescued two people. At the third, firefighters faced flames visible on all sides of a home. They began fighting the fire from outside while protecting a neighboring house from the flames.

The incidents also show why a strong fire department needs support from across city government. Firefighters rely on trained crews and reliable equipment. They need a dependable water supply from Saint Paul Regional Water Services, effective emergency communications through Ramsey County Dispatch, and fire prevention and building safety work supported by the Department of Safety and Inspections. Those systems are part of what the ISO evaluates.

The recognition comes as demand for emergency services continues to grow. Saint Paul Fire Department responded to 66,320 calls for service in 202[KD1.1]5, with 1,800 of those calls coming from surrounding cities. That is an increase from the 65,711 calls in 2024 and a 56% increase over the previous 10 years. SPFD uniquely does more than just put out fires. Those calls also include emergency medical services, rescue operations, hazardous materials response, fire prevention, and public education.

"This Class 1 rating validates what we work toward every day. We provide the highest level of protection to the people of Saint Paul," Interim Fire Chief Gregory Duren II said. "It's a reflection of the dedication of our firefighters, the strength of our partnerships, and the trust our community places in us."

The rating may also have a financial impact for property owners. Insurance companies can use ISO classifications when setting property insurance rates, although any savings depend on the insurer, property, and policy. Residents should contact their insurance providers to ask whether the new rating affects their coverage.

"An award cannot measure the fear a family feels when their home is on fire, the relief of a parent reunited with their child, or the gratitude of someone who gets a second chance because a firefighter arrived in time," says Mayor Her. "But it does recognize the people that make those moments possible. My responsibility is to make sure Saint Paul is ready for every call. When someone calls 911, they should never have to wonder whether help is coming. They should know their city is ready to answer."

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