The Town of Cicero Fire Department has received an ISO (Insurance Services Office) Public Protection Classification rating of 2, which is recognized as one of the nation’s top performance ratings. Fire Chief Dominick Buscemi said the Cicero Fire Department said the rating classification is a result of the Fire Department’s continued effort to provide the highest possible service to its residents. Chief Buscemi said the rating is most important for the insurance costs for businesses and the lower rating makes Cicero more appealing to businesses hoping to relocate to the Town of Cicero. Buscemi said, the ISO rating is also important to homeowners. According to professional firefighting associations, ISO uses the Public Protection Classification (PPCTM) program and conducts periodic audits of fire departments and their communities on a rotating basis across the United States. Ratings are issued between 1, the best, and 10, the worst. These official ratings are used by insurance companies in determining the costs for insurance premiums. The lower the rating the lower the costs. The higher the rating the higher the costs. Fire Departments with ISO Ratings of 1 or 2 are considered the best not only in terms of insurance premium costs but also in terms of their ability to fight fires and provide emergency safety response to homeowners and businesses.