By BARBARA GREEN
As ambulance service in the greater Bowie area is debated questions have arisen on how much impact changes to the City of Bowie Ambulance Service and Fire Departments could have on the city’s Public Protection Classification system rating.
During the recent town hall meeting, as well as city council and commissioner’s court sessions people have asked about the future of the department. The city fire department operates with a paid staff which serves as both firefighters and emergency medical responders, plus a volunteer fire department.
The staff is expected to face reductions if out-of-the-city limits calls are eliminated as proposed effective Oct. 1 and the county is exploring proposals to bring in ambulance service for the southern portion of the county served by Bowie ambulance. .
City officials have said have not “discussed” going to a full volunteer department, but they would anticipate there to be reductions in staff if ambulance calls are reduced.
Staffing is just one of the components used to determine an entity’s PPC rating. The figure also is a component used by insurance companies to determine insurance premiums.
The PPC system is a countrywide classification system used by the Insurance Services Office to reflect a community’s local fire protection for property insurance rating purposes.
The public fire protection of a city, town or area is graded using ISO’s Fire Suppression Rating Schedule to develop the community’s classification.
Some form of the PPC is used in all 50 states. In 1998 Texas changed to the PPC system from the old key rate system, which had been in place since 1920.

Read the full story in the weekend News and learn more about the Fire Suppression Rating System and how it impacts insurance premiums.