MARIETTA - The Marietta Fire Department performed so well on a recent inspection that its rating with the New Jersey-based Insurance Services Office was raised to a level enjoyed by only a handful of Georgia's 1,100 fire departments.

Marietta Fire Chief Jackie Gibbs, who oversees a staff of 135, made the announcement Friday during a City Council retreat at the Hilton Marietta Conference Center.

The ISO, which ranks municipal and county fire departments to help insurance companies calculate premiums, grades departments on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the best. Marietta, which has been a 3 since 1990, the last time it was reviewed by the ISO, has now been promoted to a Class 2 rating effective immediately. Gibbs said there are only 15 fire departments in Georgia with a Class 2 rank, among them Smyrna, Peachtree City and Athens Clarke County. Cobb County has a rating of 3.

Cobb Board of Commissioners Sam Olens said cities generally have a better rating because they have fire stations that are closer to each other. However, the county is expecting to receive a 2 on its report in March as well.

Ranking is based on a detailed inspection of the city's fire department, checking everything from response times to fire hydrants.

"They go through us like a microscope," Gibbs said.

The improved ranking will have a monetary effect by lowering insurance premiums for both commercial and residential property owners, Gibbs said.

"The insurance companies will tell you you're going to get a break. You're providing a higher level of protection and you're reducing the fire loss all over the entire community, and that's what they want because they reduce their insurance payments out. If the fire loss goes down, the money that the insurance company has to pay back out goes down," Gibbs said.

City manager Bill Bruton said how much of a break insurance companies will grant with the new rating isn't known since it depends on what insurance company a home or business has, as well as the specifics of their particular plan. However, "I think it would be significant for larger businesses. In this particular environment anything's significant as far as any money that people can save," Bruton said.

Bruton said the city will be notifying insurance carriers of the change, but it's also important for property owners to make sure their insurance carriers know.

"If you know who your insurance carrier is, I would go and call and let them know if they got that. If it was a business I would say it was important to put it in writing and send to the insurance carrier. When you renew your insurance don't just assume it includes a 2. Contact your carrier when renewing and make sure," Bruton said.

The 1 to 10 scale is broken down on a 100 point system, with a 90 to 100 equaling a Class 1, an 80 to an 89.9 equaling a Class 2, and so on. Marietta rose from a 70.98 in 1990 to 85.55, Gibbs said.

There is only one fire department in Georgia with a Class 1 ranking, although Gibbs said he couldn't find out from the Insurance Commission who it was. Since the city is already halfway to achieving a Class 1 ranking, Bruton said he would examine the cost benefit of obtaining that goal. To achieve it would require the city to build a seventh fire station, located in the northeast part of the city. Gibbs estimated that would cost $1.5 million for bricks and mortar, in addition to the couple acres of property needed and the 15 employees to staff the building.

Councilman Van Pearlberg praised Gibbs for the enhanced ranking.

"I think it's a definite compliment and accolade to the fire department, and it definitely assists us in possibly attracting other businesses to this community," Pearlberg said.

Added Marietta Mayor Steve Tumlin, "Fire Chief Gibbs had bragging rights today, but it was well earned. It just shows that we have the best, a sense of pride, a sense of safety, and it helps the pocket book."

Tumlin said he'd like to pursue the Class 1 ranking. A seventh fire station could be financed in a future special purpose local option sales tax, he said.