Point Reyes Light- October 1, 1998
Good rating for fire department could lower insurance rates
Some West Marin homeowners may be able to get their fire insurance rates cut by a third or more thanks to improved firefighting capabilities.
So said Marin County Fire Marshall Keith Parker this week. Parker noted that more hydrants and water-storage tanks should cause insurance rates to drop for many West Marin residents.
A survey completed in August by Insurance Services Office (ISO) indicates that since the last rating 17 years ago, the county fire department has upgraded fire protection countywide.
The Marin Fire Department serves all unincorporated areas that are not within fire protection districts. That includes all of West Marin except Inverness, Bolinas, and Stinson Beach, which have volunteer departments. Tomales has both a volunteer department and a county firestation.
ISO, a private organization, gathers information and rates a fire department's potential for suppressing structural fires and keeping them from becoming major blazes, Parker explained.
Insurance companies use the ISO rating in setting rates and availability of insurance in particular areas, the fire marshal added.
Unincorporated Marin was rated in two categories:
For structures located within 1000 feet of a public fire hydrant and within five miles of a firestation, the county scored a 4 on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 being the best score). Previously the department had been rated a 6.
"Four is an extremely good rating for a rural fire department," said Fire Marshal Parker. "This could mean a 30 to 40 percent drop in insurance rates...
"People need to check in with their insurance companies to make sure that they are aware of the new rating. We want people to get what they are paying for."
The ISO rating is one factor insurance companies use to determine rates, and some companies weigh the rating more heavily than others. The new rating could also make insurance more available in areas where companies limit coverage.
For structures located more than five miles from a firestation and further than 1,000 feet from a public hydrant, the county scored a 9 (with 1 being the best).
"A 9 is the best score possible for these areas in this rating system," Parker explained. "The nationwide system was originally designed to rate fire departments along the east coast of the United States and they do not have the variables we have here."
Parker added that his department is capable of dispatching trucks carrying 5000 gallons of water each to such rural locations within 20 minutes of a report.
He also suggested that owners of businesses outfitted with fire sprinklers check that their insurance companies are aware of them. Several buildings are not listed as having sprinklers, an important consideration that could lower rates.
The county over the last two decades has genuinely to tried to improve its fire protection, Parker said. "[Former Supervisor] Gary Giacomini deserves a lot of credit for his support of the department since 1981."
The ISO rating system assesses water systems, equipment, maintenance records, testing of pumps, and staffing. Some of the upgrades in the county have come through increased staffing, purchase of new equipment, and working with local volunteer fire departments to make improvements there.
Tomales volunteers, with the help of the county, installed four new water hydrants throughout the downtown area last year. This project alone changed the rating for businesses in Tomales from a 9 to a 4, which could significantly lower insurance rates.
Anyone with questions can contact Marin County Fire Department at 499-6717.