When a fire emergency happens, you expect your local fire department to be able to efficiently extinguish the problem. And when a fire department is up to standards, you could save money.

The Chippewa Fire District recently got a new and improved public protection rating from the Insurance Services Office.

Chief John Neihart says that could mean a reduction in fire insurance premiums depending on how the insurance companies use the rating.

"I'd like to save a few bucks on taxes,” said Village of Lake Hallie Resident Adam Sencibaugh.

The ISO evaluates fire departments all over the country on a scale of one to ten, and the lower the number, the better the score.

The ISO says it rates the departments on three criteria.

The first is how well the fire department gets and dispatches fire alarms.

Then it rates the staffing, training, response time and equipment at the department.

The final check is on the community's water supply.

Recently the Village of Lake Hallie went from a seven to a three on the scale.

The towns of Hallie, Howard and Wheaton improved to six.

"It's saying that there has been a vast improvement in the ability of the fire department and the services that they provide," said Chippewa Fire District Chief John Neihart.

"In case my house gets on fire, I know that I'm protected and safe," said Sencibaugh.

Neihart credits this improvement to three new trucks and new equipment since the last evaluation in 1991.

"All the equipment the ISO requires is on every single engine and everything that they require for the tenders and also for the aerial trucks. So the equipment was 100-percent,” he said.

The Eau Claire Fire Department says its rating is a three and it has been only a few years since the last evaluation.

Chippewa Falls Fire Department is also rated at three.

Township Fire Department says it's at the middle of the scale, around a six.

Area fire departments say the ISO evaluates them every ten to fifteen years.

According to the ISO, that's enough to make community fire programs reliable and up-to-date.