Bayshore Fire gets new rating that could save on fire insurance
Officials at the Bayshore Fire Protection and Rescue Service District are reporting two major milestones this week in saving funds – and lives – in the community.
Fire Chief Lawrence Nisbet announced that one milestone was the an improved Fire Protection Rating that could save Bayshore District homeowners significant funds on fire insurance, and the other a grant that will save three firefighter positions.
The department was awarded a Public Protection Classification of 3/5 within the boundaries of the Bayshore Fire District. Commonly known as an Insurance Services Office rating, the classification is used to set the fire protection portion of a resident’s homeowner insurance.
“Our primary rating was a three, which is in the top 5 percent in the country,” said Nisbet. “The second part of five, a dramatic improvement from a nine rating we were given back in the early 1990s.”
Many factors were taken into account by a lengthy process. An analysis of Bayshore Fire Rescue by the national data collection agency, ISO, focused on three areas to provide information on the quality of fire protection.
These three areas included the fire department itself, including equipment, apparatus, staffing, training, and geographic locations of fire stations; the water supply system, including the condition and maintenance of hydrants, and communication systems. Those included telephone systems, telephone lines, staffing, and dispatching systems
According to Nisbet, ISO staff collected information about the quality of public fire protection in approximately 46,000 fire districts across the United States. Their Class 3/5 ranking now places Bayshore Fire Rescue in that top five percent in the country for fire protection in developed areas.
Prior to this recent inspection, he said, Bayshore Fire Rescue maintained a rating of 4/9. With this change to a 3/5, residents may see a significant rate reduction on home insurance premiums. “Many insurance companies won’t even recognize a nine rating,” he said. “Property owners in this area may see a potential decrease of 5 percent to as much as a 40 to 50 percent savings. Preliminary estimates for some homes are as much as $500 a year.”
Nisbet said the actual ratings information will be released in the next few weeks, and individuals in the Bayshore District should check with their insurance agents after that time. Ratings will take effect in Nov. 1.
Nisbet said Bayshore Fire personnel and volunteers made all the difference in getting that money saving insurance rating. “ISO evaluated us in several demonstrations as well as records,” he said.
Some of their tactics were time-based for the ISO study. One timed event concerned maintaining water supply issues was to be timed within five minutes. “My guys did it in one minute 28 seconds. This rating could not be achieved if it wasn’t for the dedication and hard work of my personnel.”
He said that achieving this rating was a personal goal since he took on the chief’s position only a few years ago. “This is a direction I wanted to attack, this ISO rating.”
Nisbet also said another big milestone recently achieved by his district is securing a FEMA grant that will save three full-time firefighter positions.
The grant is the Assistance to Firefighting Grant System for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response.
With an income loss from tax dollars relevant to decreased property values, Bayshore Fire Rescue has lost about 37 percent of the district’s operational revenue in the last two years.
“These two things tie-in,” he said. “We did so well with the ISO rating based on the personnel we have here. If we lost three firefighters, our capabilities would be significantly effected.”
Even with the grant, Nisbet said he will still go to voters for a millage increase to maintain his budget. “We will put a .25 increase on the November ballot. My aspect of that is to maintain the level of service in the area.”
Part of that is the fact it is a relatively small district. “When we arrive at the scene of a fire, we have to have at least four on the scene, it is a state and federal mandate. We have to have two in and two out if something goes wrong.”
With a full-time staff of only 13 (besides the chief and office manager) losing more personnel could make the department strapped in multiple emergencies.
“We need to keep firefighters on the trucks.”