05/15/2026
Several residents in the Camino Cerro Chato / Madrid area have recently experienced difficulty obtaining or renewing homeowner’s insurance policies. In some cases, insurance companies have cited fire protection classifications, wildfire risk, distance to fire stations, or water supply concerns. To help clarify the situation, I want to share some factual information regarding the current ISO Public Protection Classification (PPC) for the Madrid area and surrounding communities.
Current ISO Rating for Madrid
The Madrid Fire District currently carries a split ISO classification of 5/5Y.
What does “5/5Y” mean?
ISO explains split classifications as follows:
• The first number applies to properties:
• within 5 road miles of a responding fire station, and
• within 1,000 feet of a creditable water supply
• The second number with a “Y” designation applies to properties:
• within 5 road miles of a responding fire station,
• but more than 1,000 feet from a creditable water supply
Properties located beyond 5 road miles from a responding station may be classified differently by different insurers. ISO generally assigns Class 10 outside the 5-mile range.
New Water Supply Improvements
Residents should also be aware that the ISO-creditable water tank / dry hydrant system near CCC and NM-14 now exists and was not reflected during the previous ISO evaluation cycle. This additional water supply infrastructure may improve fire suppression capability and should be considered when discussing coverage with insurance providers.
Important Context
Historically, many residents in the area have successfully challenged inaccurate insurance company assumptions. Some common issues cited by insurers have included:
• Incorrect claims that properties were more than 5 miles from a fire station
• Incorrect assumptions regarding available water supply
• Incorrect wildfire risk classifications
• Incorrect assumptions regarding fire apparatus access
Insurance Market Challenges in New Mexico
Many insurance companies are currently reducing or limiting business in New Mexico overall, especially in rural areas. This appears to be part of a broader statewide insurance market trend and may not necessarily reflect actual local fire protection capability.
Official Resources
Santa Fe County Fire Department ISO information:
https://www.santafecountynm.gov/fire/volunteer-fire-districts/madrid
https://www.santafecountynm.gov/media/files/Fire/PDF/ISOInfo.pdf
ISO PPC Program Information:
• https://www.isomitigation.com/ppc/program-works/
For residents experiencing insurance issues related to ISO ratings or fire protection concerns, it may be worthwhile to request that the insurer verify:
• actual road distance to the Madrid Fire Station
• proximity to approved water supply infrastructure,
• and the current Madrid Fire District PPC classification.
