Residents will find out just how good the city’s fire protection is after an exhaustive review — and results could mean cost savings for residents and businesses.

But an unflattering review could mean higher costs.

A field representative from Insurance Service Office, an independent organization that provides risk evaluations for insurance companies and fire departments, spent eight hours a day all last week evaluating everything from the city water supply to the fire department’s equipment and paperwork.

Representatives from ISO declined requests for comment. The office does not have a spokesperson.

Within nine months, ISO will provide a rating of one through 10 to the department, the results of which could substantially affect fire insurance premiums paid out by home and business owners, according to Fire Chief Denis O’Halloran.

“I have a good feeling,” O’Halloran said of his department’s chances at receiving a better rating. “We’re quite optimistic that we’re going to go lower, but our fingers are crossed.”

Although ISO aims to re-evaluate municipalities once every 10 years, Berwyn was last rated in 1996 due to backlogs in the 46,000 fire districts ISO evaluates nationwide. The department received a four in 1996, with one being the best rating, and 10 being the worst.

Out of the 2,485 Illinois fire districts currently rated by ISO, 459 are rated four or above, according to ISO. Only five communities currently hold a rating of one.

“Decreasing our score is the ultimate goal,” O’Halloran said. “I’d like to go down two, but I’d settle for one. Sometimes you have to weigh the cost of decreasing the score versus the cost of servicing the overall budget.”

Last week, ISO field representative Michael Ramirez evaluated how the city responds to fires. Ramirez selected and tested 16 fire hydrants at high risk locations such as schools, hospitals and large buildings, to test the city’s water supply and its ability to handle a fire. The Fire Department was also required to provide three years of paperwork regarding the emergency call volume, staffing and equipment.

O’Halloran said the department has made numerous improvements since it was last rated, including moving to a new fire station, improvements to the department’s fire alert system and adding manpower to the city’s emergency dispatch team. Former fire chief Richard Kalivoda also began preparing by slowly purchasing additional fire engine equipment that provide points in the rating system.

“Over the last 13 years, little by little we have been knocking away at this goal to reduce the scores,” O’Halloran said.

Once ISO provides its final report, estimated to be done in six to nine months, insurance companies will use the Public Protection Class rating to determine fire insurance premiums for homes and businesses. If the city’s rating decreases, so could premiums. A worse rating could also cause the premiums to increase.

“Policy holders can look at their mortgage insurance paperwork and they should be able to find a PPC class,” O’Halloran said. “A reduction, hopefully, could save them money on their next billing cycle.”