A company called the ISO (Insurance Services Office) creates ratings for fire departments and their surrounding communities. The ratings calculate how well-equipped fire departments are to put out fires in their coverage area. This score is called the "ISO Fire Rating," and is provided to homeowners insurance companies.

Currently, the City of Milton Fire Department has an ISO Fire Rating of 2/2X.

ISO is an independent company that serves insurance companies, communities, fire departments and insurance regulators, analyzes data from the evaluation using its "Fire Suppression Rating Schedule." The company then assigns a Public Protection Classification (PPC) program number to the community based on that analysis. The score is based on extensive evaluation of equipment, station locations, training, and community risk.

The rating scale is 1-10, with a PPC of 1 representing an exemplary fire suppression program. A PPC of 10 indicates the area's fire suppression program does not meet ISO's minimum criteria.

According to ISO criteria, a 2 rating will generally apply to all members of the community within 5 miles of a fire station and 1,000 feet from a hydrant (which includes 97% of Milton properties). The 2X applies to properties that do not meet the criteria. Milton firefighters are working to identify those properties and determine if they have a credible water source, which may change their rating from a 2X to a 2.