Fire departments around the county have seen improved marks on Insurance Services Office (ISO) rankings this year, and this week Florala Fire Department joined the fray.

FFD’s ranking improved from a 6/9 to a 4/4x, a mark that will have a direct effect on the insurance rates in the area.

ISO monitors fire departments’ abilities to respond to emergencies, as well as infrastructure, water departments and many other agencies that factor into an area’s overall safety. ISO then rates the overall safety of an area on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the safest and 10 the most unsafe.

The lower a score, the lower insurance rates typically are for home and business owners in the area.

Gwen Martin, whose husband Keith serves as fire chief in Florala, said the entire community is proud of what the department has accomplished.

“This score is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the membership,” Martin said. “We have built something our entire community can be proud of.”

The classification goes into effect Nov. 1, 2014. Community members should check with their insurance providers to get specific information on any upcoming decreases in rates.