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Owners Fire Insurance Premiums - CHECK YOURS!!
Recently the Bay Leaf
Volunteer Fire Department has received calls from residents telling
us that their Fire Insurance Premium was increasing due to a change
in Bay Leaf’s ISO (Insurance Services Office Inc.) Rating. This
is not the case, and we would like to clarify what you need to communicate
to your Insurance Company.
Bay Leaf Fire Department
is an ISO Grade 5 within 5 miles of all three of our Stations. Our
Grade 5 rating is the best rating (lowest premium rate) available
for residential properties. Only a new expanded District Area that
was initiated by NC Department Of Insurance and Wake County earlier
this year that extends from 5 mile to 6 miles from our stations is
a Class 9E. All extended Districts in NC, between the 5-mile and 6-mile
limits are Class 9 – regardless of the ISO Class within the
normal 5-mile limits.
If you live within our
5-mile limit, we recommend that you check with your Insurance Agent
and confirm that they have you properly classified in Bay Leaf’s
ISO Grade 5 district. If they have any question, they need to refer
to the ISO Community Mitigation Classification Manual (published and
distributed to all Insurance Companies by ISO), which clarifies Bay
Leaf’s rating as 5/9E, with the following footnote:
“Primary
Fire Department Response is provided by the Bay Leaf Fire Department
Stations 1, 2 and 3. Hydrant Distance requirements does NOT apply
due to an alternate, credible water supply within 5 road miles of
the following Fire Stations: Bay Leaf Stations 1, 2 and 3.”
The members of Bay Leaf
Volunteer Fire Department work very hard to obtain and maintain an
ISO Rating of 5/9E. This is equivalent to having Fire Hydrants throughout
our District. Since we do not have Fire Hydrants, we have demonstrated
our ability to provide adequate water supply through water haul capabilities
to the satisfaction of ISO. Do not let your insurance agent increase
your premium “because Bay Leaf’s ISO rating” changed.
That is not correct. If you have any questions, please call us at
847-3858.
Ron Roof, Chief
Bay Leaf Volunteer Fire Department
