The Turlock Fire Department has been recognized for excellence, and that could mean lower home and business insurance rates for Turlockers.

Turlock Firefighters Local 2434 announced that the Turlock Fire Department’s Insurance Services Offices, Inc. (ISO) rating will upgrade to Class 2 on May 1. The department is currently rated Class 3.

The ISO assigns ratings to fire departments and cities based on on firefighting equipment, staffing, training, and location of fire stations, along with an evaluation of the dispatch system and water systems available to suppress fires.

The ISO ratings of a city or fire department directly affect the insurance premiums for citizens and business within a department’s response area.

The program creates an incentive for improving and maintaining staffing, purchasing necessary firefighting equipment and offering firefighters the best possible training to keep the Class 2 rating.

Just over 1 percent of fire departments in the United States have an ISO rating of Class 2 or higher.