City of Katy maintains ISO rating, plans new fire station

The city maintained an ISO rating of Class 2 for 10 years but lack of personnel to man the Katy Fire Department's trucks threatened to make it a 3. The rating ultimately effects property insurance ratings for residents. Inspectors gave the department a two-year window to complete the necessary changes.

"In the long range, we don't want to build our department around an ISO score, but to provide adequate fire protection and EMS services to all of our residents," Brawner said.

The city's next step is to continue with the planned construction of a fire station on Kingsland Avenue, west of Pin Oak Road.

"The design of the station is particularly important to ensure that the building will handle the growth we will see in that area over time," Brawner said.

The new station is also tied into the re-organization of the fire department, including the hiring of three new lieutenants and one additional captain, as it shifts from a part-time force to a full-time force supplemented by volunteers.