The Marietta Fire Department has been awarded the highest Class 1 designation from the Insurance Service Office (ISO) to help lower insurance premium costs to residents and businesses.

The ISO ranking scale is based on a 1 to 10 ranking with a Class 1 designation being the highest recognition a department can receive.

Less than half of 1 percent or about 138 out of 48,000 fire departments across the nation have a Class 1 designation.

The Marietta Fire Department is one of only 10 departments in Georgia to receive this recognition for the services it provides to the community.

The department is the first one in Cobb County to receive this designation.