The NC Department of Insurance recently announced that the City of Burlington achieved an increased North Carolina Response Rating System (NCRRS) Score. This is commonly referred to as an ISO Rating. Burlington’s rating has been upgraded to a Class 2 rating from a Class 3 rating. NCRRS scores range from one (highest) to 10 (not recognized by the State as a certified fire department).
The NC Department of Insurance rates each fire district in the state at regular intervals. The scores are determined by inspections that examine staffing levels, sufficient equipment, proper maintenance of equipment, communication capabilities and water availability. Higher NCRRS ratings can significantly lower homeowners insurance rates because they indicate that the fire department is better equipped to respond to fires in their jurisdiction.
"I'd like to congratulate Chief Smith for the department's performance and for the hard work of all the department members," said NC Department of Insurance Commissioner Causey. "The citizens in the City should rest easy knowing they have a fine group of firefighters protecting them and their property in case of an emergency."
Since the Burlington Fire Department’s last inspection, Burlington has invested in building, staffing, and equipping a sixth fire station, which opened on October 6, 2016 on Bonnar Bridge Parkway. The improvement in NCRRS rating will become effective on August 1, 2018.
“The City of Burlington is committed to adequately training and equipping our professional fire department. Thanks to the support of the Burlington City Council, we have been able to provide improved service and response times to our community and we are proud that our rating increase is reflective of our level of service delivery,” said Fire Chief Jay Smith.
More information about the NC Department Insurance, Office of State Fire Marshal is available at www.NCDOI.com/OSFM.