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PIKE COUNTY - Have you ever wondered about your fire insurance rates? Why are some rates higher than others? Why do some companies charge different rates for homes in the same area?
“ISO ratings depend on a combination of different evaluation areas which are combined to become the actual ISO rating for the area,” said Fire Chief Mike Grant of Pike Emergency Services. Insurance companies use classifications to determine the price of fire insurance for homes and businesses in Pike County.
According to www.isomitigation.com, 50% of classification is based on the fire department, how it is dispatched to a fire, and the ability of the fire department to fight a fire based on its personnel and equipment. 40% of the classification is based on water supply in the event of a fire. The final 10% is based on the review of the fire alarm system including whether a community has 911 to dispatch fire fighters to a residence in the event of a fire and how fast that call can go out to 911 in the event of an emergency.
A large portion of the classification is based on the fire department. Since Pike County has a volunteer fire department, the ISO rating is higher than it would be compared to a county with a paid fire department. ISO reviews information such as what type of equipment is housed at a particular fire station, what kind of equipment is on the trucks, how fast and how long water can be pumped in an emergency situation, how many personnel are on the roster, and what type of training the firefighters have had in order to determine the ISO rating.
The other large portion of the classification is based on the review of the water supply. Whether an adequate and easily accessible water supply is available in an area is a huge factor for Pike County residents. Fire hydrants have made a difference in many insurance policy premiums in Pike County.
Some insurance companies take into account whether water sources such as a pond or a lake are readily available since Pike County has turbo drafts to pull the water. “Different companies often have their own criteria for what they require for their policies,” said Deputy Chief Randy Snyder.
Pike County has E-911 so the call for help in the event of an emergency is pretty fast, but how fast does that call for help go out to E-911? Does the homeowner have an alarm system that monitors the house 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or is the homeowner depending on a neighbor or passerby to see the smoke and call it in to E-911 so they can check it out? Many insurance companies will give a discount for a home monitoring system.
Fire Chief Grant said that there has been some misinformation about ISO ratings in the county so he went directly to the Insurance Services Office to obtain information about Pike County’s ISO ratings.
Pike County is classified as a 6/9/10 overall. The explanation of these numbers is as follows: Class 6 is any residence within 5 road miles of a fire station AND is within 1000 feet of a fire hydrant. Class 9 is any residence that is within 5 road miles of a fire station but is farther than 1000 feet from a fire hydrant. Class 10 is any residence more than 5 road miles from a fire station.
The City of Zebulon is classified as 6 inside of the city and those outside of the City of Zebulon are classified as a 9/10. Class 6 is any residence inside of the city, within 5 road miles of a fire station, AND within 1000 feet of a fire hydrant. Class 9 is any residence outside of the city, which is within 5 road miles of a fire station, but more than 1000 feet from a fire hydrant. Class 10 is any residence outside of the city that is more than 5 road miles from a fire station.
The City of Concord is classified as a 5/9 in the city and a 7/9 outside of the city. Class 5 is any residence inside the city, within 5 road miles of a fire station, AND has a fire hydrant within 1000 feet. Class 9 in the city is within 5 road miles of a fire station but is more than 1000 feet from a fire hydrant. Class 7 is any residence outside of the city that is within 5 road miles of a fire station AND has a fire hydrant within 1000 feet of the residence. Class 9 is any residence outside of the city that is within 5 road miles of a fire station but no fire hydrants are within 1000 feet.
The City of Molena is classified as an 8/9 inside of the city and a 9/10 outside of the city. Class 8 is any residence inside of the city that is within 5 road miles of a fire station AND less than 1000 feet from a fire hydrant. Class 9 is any residence outside of the city that is within 5 road miles of a fire station. Class 10 is any residence outside of the city which is farther than 5 road miles from a fire station.
The City of Meansville is classified as a 6 inside of the city and a 6/9 outside of the city. Class 6 inside of the city is any residence within 5 road miles of a fire station AND has a fire hydrant within 1000 feet of the residence. Class 6 outside of the city is any residence within 5 road miles of a fire station AND has a fire hydrant within 1000 feet of the residence. Class 9 outside of the city is any residence within 5 road miles of a fire station but more than 1000 feet from a fire hydrant. There are some residences outside of the City of Meansville that are rated a 7 because they are outside of the city but within 5 road miles of a fire station.
Chief Grant told Pike County Times the City of Molena will be breaking ground on its new fire station in the next 30 days. “Molena [also] had a recent ISO rating evaluation,” he said. “The results will not be back until after the first of the year.”
Chief Grant said that Pike Emergency Services is also putting in for grants for additional equipment for the fire department.
Anyone with questions about their ISO rating can call and discuss their ratings with the Fire Chief Mike Grant at Pike County Emergency Services at 770-567-2018.
• Pike County- IS A 6/9/10 OVERALL
Class 6- any residence within 5 road miles of a fire station and is within 1000’ of a fire hydrant.
Class 9- any residence that is within 5 road miles of a fire station but is in excess of 1000’ from a fire hydrant.
Class 10- any residence in excess of 5 road miles from a fire station.
• City of Zebulon- IN CITY 6, OUTSIDE CITY 9/10
Class 6 {Inside City} residence is within 5 road miles of a fire station and fire hydrant is within 1000’ of the residence.
Class 9 {Outside City} residence is within 5 road miles of a fire station but the fire hydrant is in excess of 1000’ from the residence.
Class 10 {Outside City} residence is more than 5 road miles from a fire station.
• City of Concord- IN CITY 5/9, OUTSIDE CITY 7/9
Class 5 {In City} residence is within 5 road miles of a fire station and a fire hydrant is within 1000’ of the residence)
Class 9 {In City} residence is within 5 road miles of a fire station but fire hydrant is in excess of 1000’ from residence.
Class 7 {Outside City} fire station is within 5 road miles of the residence and hydrant is within 1000’ of residence.
Class 9 {Outside City} fire station within 5 road miles of the residence but a fire hydrant is in excess of 1000’ from residence.
• City of Molena- IN CITY 8, OUTSIDE CITY 9/10
Class 8 {Inside City} fire station within 5 road miles of residence and a fire hydrant is within 1000’ of residence
Class 9 {Outside City} fire station within 5 road miles of the residence.
Class 10 {Outside City} fire station is in excess of 5 road miles from residence.
• City of Meansville- IN CITY 6, OUTSIDE CITY 6/9
Class 6 {Inside City} fire station within 5 road miles of the residence and a fire hydrant is within 1000’ of the residence)
Class 6 {Outside City} fire station within 5 road miles of a fire station and fire hydrant is 1000’ from residence.
Class 9 {Outside City} fire station within 5 road miles of a fire station and hydrant in excess of 1000’ from residence)
Class 7 is outside the city but within 5 road miles of a fire station. (There are a few residences that are classified this way.)