Kudos to the City of Andalusia for its improved fire safety rating by the Insurance Services Office, which improved from a 5 to a 4.

The risk factor calculated by ISO figures into the insurance rates of both businesses and homeowners in the city.

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.

Andalusia’s rate improved because of a new well installed by the utilities board, improved infrastructure in the industrial park, and because of increased training by firefighters.

Both Rose Hill and Gantt also had improved ratings this year. ISO does not make public its ratings, and has not yet released new ratings for all of the departments in the county.

But all of us will benefit from these improvements.