Rio Verde Fire District
Fire Suppression
The Rio Verde Fire District is staffed and equipped to provide the full range of professional all hazard fire suppression response for structure fires, wildland fires, vehicle fires, and fires involving flammable liquids and electrical hazards. All personnel are trained and certified at the Firefighter I and Firefighter II certification level. The District is staffed 24 hours, 7 days a week, with 6 firefighters that are also trained and certified to provide emergency medical services (EMS).
Rio Verde Fire District, Station 441 is strategically located within the District to provide emergency response times within the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 4 to 6 minute response time recommendation. Historically the emergency response time within the district averages 3.5 minutes. This response time is critically important and allows for fast intervention and stabilization of fire and medical emergencies. As the Verde Communities grow, and Vista Verde and Tonto Vista are developed, the District has future plans to add Station 442 to meet the emergency needs for these new areas.
Fast and efficient emergency response to the community is accomplished through utilization of the components of the emergency response system. This system starts with citizen recognition of a fire or medical emergency and a call to 911. Basic citizen emergency training in CPR, fire extinguisher use, and evacuation assist the fire district in managing an emergency prior the arrival of the first emergency response personnel. Trained emergency dispatchers utilizing enhanced 911 technologies quickly assess the emergency need, confirm the emergency location, and dispatch the appropriate emergency responders. With accurate emergency information from the dispatch center, trained fire and EMS personnel can arrive on the emergency scene quickly and immediately begin work to stabilize the emergency incident.
To support emergency response the District utilizes several specialty vehicles.
Insurance Services Office (ISO)
Public Protection Program
ISO collects information on municipal fire-protection efforts in communities throughout the United States. In each community, ISO analyzes the relevant data using Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS). ISO then assigns a Public Protection Classification (PPC) 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 criteria. As of February 1, 2024 the Rio Verde Fire District PPC is Class 2.
By classifying communities' ability to suppress fires, ISO helps the communities evaluate their public fire-protection services. The program provides an objective, countrywide standard that helps fire departments in planning and budgeting for facilities, equipment, and training. And by securing lower fire insurance premiums for communities with better public protection, the PPC program provides incentives and rewards for communities that choose to improve their firefighting services.