Some local property owners may soon see a decrease in their insurance costs, as three local fire districts improved their public protection classification ratings following inspections by state officials.
The Murphy and Andrews fire districts each improved its protection ratings by a point. Meanwhile, the Ranger Fire District, which hadn’t been graded since the 1970s, improved its protection rating by 4 points.
“Everybody in that fire district is going to have the opportunity to observe a tremendous amount of insurance savings,” Murphy Fire Chief Al Lovingood said while congratulating the Ranger crew. “I am proud for them and their department.”
The Insurance Services Office’s rating system ranges from 1 to 10, with 1 being considered the highest classification. Murphy Fire District (inside town limits) improved its rating to a 3, while Murphy Rural improved its rating to 4.
Of the 1520 fire districts in North Carolina, only 59 have a classification rating better than 3. Only 180 fire districts in the state have a protection rating better than 4, according to a rating analysis conducted by the N.C. Office of the Fire Marshal in 2019.
“To say I’m proud is an understatement because a tremendous amount of work went into this on behalf of not only our personnel but those other departments who provide us aid, as well as the Town of Murphy public works and water distribution staff,” Lovingood said.
“We couldn’t do it without them.”
Meanwhile, Ranger and the Andrews fire district each improved its public protection classification rating to 5.
“We were just a few points shy of a class 4, which would have improved our insurance rating even more for our citizens and businesses,” Andrews volunteer firefighter Scott Stalcup said. “I just want to thank dispatch, Valleytown Chief Justin Hyde and his department for helping with this inspection.”
Among other things, the state’s inspection reviews staffing levels, equipment, communications capabilities and availability of water sources. A higher classification (lower number on the scale) suggests that a fire department is overall better equipped to respond to fires in its district; however, a lower classification does not necessarily indicate poor service.
Ten percent of each fire district’s overall score is based on how well the communications center receives and dispatches fire alarms. The Cherokee County Dispatch Center out of the sheriff’s office on Regal Street earned 9.4 credits out of a total of 10, which is the best score the department has ever received.
“Dispatch has come a long way, and they keep improving,” Ranger Fire Chief Mike Taylor said. “Without their points, it would be a lot harder to get what we need.”
The amount of insurance savings property owners may receive varies depending on numerous factors including the building’s method of construction, type of occupancy, fire load, etc.
The new protection ratings become effective Sept. 1. The insurance companies dictate when savings take effect. Property owners are encouraged to contact their insurance provider.
“Insurance companies may provide decreased insurance premiums for qualifying properties beginning Sept. 1 or could wait until the specific policy renewal date,” Lovingood said. “That’s outside of our
control.”