North Carolina Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey announced Wednesday that the Duck Municipal Fire District has improved is insurance rating following a routine inspection, which could mean lower property insurance rates starting this fall.
Duck’s rating is the second best available according to the Department of Insurance Office of State Fire Marshal, and will become effective October 1 for new and renewing policies.
“I’d like to congratulate Chief Donna Black for the department’s performance and for the hard work of all the department members,” said Causey. “The citizens of Duck should rest easy knowing they have a fine group of firefighters protecting them and their property in case of an emergency.”
The inspections are required on a regular basis as part of the North Carolina Response Rating System, and include looks at proper staffing levels, sufficient equipment, proper maintenance of equipment, communications capabilities and availability of a water source.
The NCRRS rating system ranges from one (highest) to 10 (not recognized as a certified fire department by the state), with most rural departments falling into the 9S category.
While lower ratings do not necessarily indicate poor service a higher rating does suggest that a department is overall better equipped to respond to fires in its district. Higher ratings can also significantly lower homeowners insurance rates in that fire district.
State law requires OSFM officials to inspect departments serving districts of 100,000 people or less, which makes up all but twelve of the state’s fire
districts.
