STFD3 Fire Protection Rating Improves to Class 3
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Lacombe, LA — March 4, 2026 — St. Tammany Fire District No. 3 (STFD3) is proud to announce that its fire protection rating issued by the Property Insurance Association of Louisiana (PIAL) has improved from a Class 4 to a Class 3. The new rating will take effect April 1, 2026.
The PIAL rating system evaluates the overall effectiveness of a community’s fire protection services. These ratings help insurance companies determine property insurance premiums for
homes and businesses within a fire district. The rating scale ranges from Class 1 (highest level of fire protection) to Class 10 (no recognized fire protection).
A Class 3 rating places STFD3 among the better‑protected communities in Louisiana, reflecting strong fire protection services and infrastructure within the district.
PIAL conducts detailed reviews of several key factors when determining a community’s classification, including:
• Fire department capabilities, including staffing, training, response readiness, and equipment
• Water supply and distribution systems, such as hydrant availability, flow capacity, and maintenance
• Emergency communications, including dispatch systems and response coordination
• Fire prevention programs, inspections, and community risk reduction efforts
Improvement in these areas contributed to the district’s advancement from a Class 4 to Class 3 rating.
For residents and businesses, this rating change may positively affect property insurance premiums, as many insurance providers use PIAL ratings when determining fire protection risk. While the exact impact varies by insurer and policy, improved fire protection ratings can potentially result in lower insurance costs.
Because each insurance company evaluates the rating differently, citizens are encouraged to contact their property insurance provider after April 1st to determine how the new classification may affect their premiums.
Fire Chief Michael Geissler credited the achievement to the dedication of the district’s personnel and the continued support of the community.
“This improvement reflects the hard work and commitment of our firefighters, staff, and leadership,” said Chief Geissler. “I want to express my sincere gratitude to our employees, our Board of Commissioners, and the support of our community that makes this possible. Their continued investment in fire protection helps us provide the highest level of service to the citizens of Fire District 3.”
STFD3 remains committed to continuous improvement in fire protection, emergency response, and community safety.
“Operation Save-A-Life” was created to combat the rise in fire related injuries and deaths due to home fires in our great state. The goal of this statewide initiative is to dramatically reduce these fire related injuries and deaths across the State of Louisiana by providing smoke alarms to vulnerable citizens and at risk communities with the help of your local fire department.
The Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal is proud to present “Operation Save A Life”, a public service campaign designed to increase awareness and educate consumers about the dangers of fire, its related hazards and how to prevent them.
ABOUT US
Protecting You & Your Family since 1954
St. Tammany Parish Fire District 3 (STFD3) is a rural, unincorporated area designated ‘Ward 7’ of St. Tammany Parish. The dedicated team of St. Tammany Fire Protections District 3 is on standby twenty four hours a day, seven days a week in order to keep the residents of Lacombe safe.
Our Mission
We, the members of St. Tammany Parish Fire Protection District No. 3, shall strive to save lives and protect property through safe, cost effective and professional service.
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Our Vision
Our vision is to provide quality emergency services by striving for excellence in service delivery through training, education, team work, collaboration, and respect.
