Chelan Fire receives breakdown on protection rating

CHELAN – In what was originally intended as a workshop for staff, Chelan Fire and Rescue (CFR) staff and commissioners received an explanatory presentation on the district’s rating provided by Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB), and any rippling effects the rating could create on insurance rates for our homeowners.
WSRB is a private, non-profit insurance rating bureau, explained Vice President of Public Protection Robert Ferrell. “We get our license and regulation from the OIC,” he continued, “that’s the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, they regulate everything having to do with insurance in the state.”
Effective April 1, the district’s Protection Classification (PC) will be a class seven, which is an improvement from the previous class eight. The PC scale, which ranges from one (being the most protected/prepared for fires) through 10 (being the least protected or prepared), is based on various factors inspected by WSRB and is calculated using a deficiency point system. The four categories evaluated in a district and city are fire safety control, water supply, fire department and emergency communications.
The over-all classification rating provided by WSRB will be utilized by insurance groups to determine appropriate rates, based on the risk-level of fire protection services within a district. The higher the fire-loss risk, the higher insurance premiums for homeowners.
Water supply, which is evaluate by the capacity, distribution and maintenance of water systems and fire hydrants, is 35 percent of the total points allowed. The district earned 804 of the 1,450 points possible in this area. The category focuses on “the water supplies in the community that provide fire hydrants,” as explained in the PC Report provided. One of the biggest hits in this area was in the distribution of hydrants section, more specifically in regard to residential districts. “Residential structures in the community will be evaluated to determine if a fire hydrant is available within 600 feet,” as explained in the report. However, due to the location of a majority of residences within the district, and the absence of fire hydrants, especially within 600 feet, is not uncommon. What the district was lacking in distribution, they more than made up for in inspections and conditions, earning 97 percent of total points possible. This particular section commonly receives lower scores with other districts, with confusion as to responsibility, explained Ferrell.
Moving into scoring on the fire department, which evaluates the total service area for the fire department, both incorporated and unincorporated areas, and worth 40 percent of the over-all score. This section took into consideration 17 different areas, including pumpers, ladder trucks/ladder service, distribution of companies, pumper capacity, maintenance and condition of apparatus, number of officers, department staffing, engine and ladder company unit staffing, stream devices, equipment for pumpers and ladder trucks, hose, condition of hose, training, response to alarms, fire operations, special protection and miscellaneous factors and conditions. With an abundance of categories, there are only with notable scoring, as the remaining scores were all above average. Scoring on the number of company officers indicated a shortage of on-duty officers. There must be one on duty at all times, stated the report, or two active volunteers which may be equivalent to one full on-duty officer, up to half the number of officers required. Department staffing, the next of the categories, earned the department only 13 percent for day-shift and night shifts, as the requirement is for six firefighters to be on duty at each of the engine and ladder companies, with three volunteer firefighters being considered as equivalent to one on-duty firefighter. Volunteers, as explained, can be considered equivalent to on-duty firefighters in a one-to-one ratio if the volunteer is pulling “defined shifts at fire stations”. The third section, “Fire Operations” hit the department hard with only 18 percent of points earned. This section accumulates scoring from “Department Staffing,” “Engine and Ladder Unit Staffing” and “Training.” With a majority of the point deficiencies coming from staffing issues.
Next was review of the emergency communications segment, which evaluates the emergency communication system used to dispatch the fire department, and worth nine percent of the overall score. The department earned 68 percent of possible points in this category, with very average scoring across the board, and no notable surprises.
Lastly, fire safety control was reviewed. This portion evaluates the fire code enforcement and fire safety education activities in the community and is worth 16 percent of the overall score. The department earned only 28 percent of the possible points in this department, with low scoring in the public fire education subcategory.
What does all of this mean in a nutshell? Individual residence insurance premiums are calculated based on the district’s rating, as well as the proximity of the property to the nearest station and distance from fire extinguisher to residence, and other factors. However, as the district’s PC improves or degrades, the community’s premiums will be reflective of that change. The residences within city limits are currently at a class six, with the district and residences within five-miles of Station 71 at a class seven, and Stations 72 and 74 “are not adequately staffed with firefighters,” as explained in the report cover, resulting in a PC 9. “Dwelling properties within five road miles on only Station 72 or 74 will have their rating changed to PC 9A,” continued the explanation.
While the fire district has improved its score from a class eight to a class seven, the elimination of six of the paid firefighters would drastically affect the scoring, explained Ferrell, which would in turn effect homeowner insurance rates as well. He could not give specifics on how much rates, premiums or scores would be affected, but with already low scoring in the staffing department, a hit like losing half of the paid staff present would be reflected.