For Immediate Release: March 3, 2026

Contact: David Fath, Communications Director dfath@albemarlenc.gov

704-985-4935

Media Release

City of Albemarle Fire Department Earns Prestigious ISO Class 2 Rating

Achievement Places Albemarle Among State’s Top Fire Departments 

ALBEMARLE, NC – The City of Albemarle is proud to announce that the Albemarle Fire Department has earned an ISO Class 2 rating from the North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshal. This significant achievement places the Albemarle Fire Department among the top-performing fire agencies in the state.

Fire departments across North Carolina receive scores from the Insurance Services Office (ISO), on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 representing the highest level of performance. Most fire departments statewide hold an ISO Class 5 rating. Prior to its most recent evaluation, the Albemarle Fire Department held an ISO Class 3 rating. Only five percent of fire departments in North Carolina, volunteer and career combined, hold an ISO Class 2 rating.

Improved fire class ratings can lower insurance premiums for residents, businesses, and industries. Excellence in public safety also improves the City’s ability to recruit and retain business and industry.

State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor congratulated Albemarle Fire Chief Kenny Kendall and the entire department for earning an ISO Class 2 rating. "The residents of Albemarle can take comfort in knowing this highly capable team of firefighters from the Albemarle Fire Department is safeguarding them and their belongings in the event of an emergency," said Taylor.

Inspections are conducted every five years. The fire department is graded on training, equipment, operating procedures, and resource deployment. Additionally, the Fire Department’s Community Risk Reduction efforts including education, inspection, and fire prevention are evaluated.

The City’s water system is graded on the quantity of water available for fire protection, the concentration of fire hydrants, and the reliability of the system.

Emergency dispatch is rated based on its ability to receive, process, and dispatch structure fire calls within the standard set forth by the National Fire Protection Association, as well as system reliability and redundancy.

Fire Chief Kendall highlighted the City’s investments that helped make this achievement possible. “Over the past few years, the City has refurbished a ladder truck and funded the purchase of a brand new one.

We’ve also purchased a brand-new pumper truck. We added ten more firefighters, which allowed us to put another truck in service,” said Kendall. “We’ve expanded our specialized training, including work in controlled facilities. AFD also developed an award-winning firefighter training academy so that recruits are fully trained by us and ready to work from day one.”

When combining the budgets of Fire and Police, the City spends more on public safety than it collects in property taxes. Sales tax and other revenue sources provide additional funding to support these services. The prioritization of public safety directly aligns with the City of Albemarle’s award-winning strategic plan, which includes the goal of enhancing safety and security. The plan was developed based on feedback from residents through a community survey.

The City of Albemarle Fire Department’s new ISO Class 2 rating becomes effective June 1, 2026.