Effective February 1,2008, Springdale Fire Department has been awarded a Class 2 rating by the Insurance Services Office. By this change in classification, citizens and businesses inside the city limits of Springdale will enjoy a reduction in insurance rates.

ISO ratings are based on a 1-10 scale with Class 1 being the best possible rating, and 10 being the worst. Springdale has progressed in improvement from a Class 5 in 1986, Class 4 in 1993, Class 3 in 2004 and now a Class 2 in 2008. Currently, there are only 9 cities in Arkansas with Class 2 ratings and there are no Class 1 municipal fire departments in Arkansas.

According to Fire Chief Duane Atha, "in the future, we might be able to reach a Class 1 if we relocate two of our current stations and add two others in the large areas recently annexed while also maintaining the same staffing levels per company."

The change in classification was based on an overall review by ISO in July 2007 which included consideration of SFD's staffing, tools and equipment, fire station locations, training and maintenance documentation, dispatch operations and the city's water supply.