DECATUR -- The city of Decatur is working with ISO (Insurance Services Office) auditors to lower ISO ratings, which will lower insurance premiums for property owners. Decatur's in-town ISO rating was 7 and the out-of-town rating was 9.
The city recently received word that, on April 1, its in-town rate will drop to 6 and the out-of-town residents within five miles of a fire station will also drop to 6. Those living farther than five miles from a fire station will have an ISO rating of 10.
The Current ISO rating for Decatur has been the same for more than 25 years, according to Bob Tharp, Decatur's mayor. The Decatur Fire Department recently completed an audit in which improvements were noted and other possible improvements suggested -- things which the fire department and the water department have been working to implement.
Utilizing the Benton County Training Association for Decatur Fire Department training has been a plus. The city also scheduled and paid for outside companies to come in and do maintenance and testing on fire hydrants, fire apparatus and fire equipment.
Water supply in the fire district, fire department capabilities, mutual aid from other departments and communications are a very big part and go into the rating evaluation as well.
Decatur Fire Department has three fire engines (two city, one county), one engine/tender (county) which holds 3,000 gallons of water and a large amount of equipment, one tender (city) which holds 1,500 gallons of water and can also be used to fight brush fires, three brush trucks (two Arkansas Forestry, one county) and one light rescue truck that has equipment needed for motor vehicle accidents, medical calls, search and rescue calls and vehicle fires.
Every firefighter is fitted for new gear after the first year on the department. All of the department air packs have been purchased within the last five years and are in good condition, according to Tharp.
The next ISO audit is in 2019 and the city has some goals to reach before that audit in an effort to lower ISO ratings another point.
"We are looking to build a substation west of Decatur on 102 and Mt Zion Road to cover the residents who are more than five road miles from the current fire station, and the plan is to see our entire Decatur Fire District become less than the 9 ISO rating it is today," Tharp said. "The fire department will continue to increase the number of firefighters who are sent to classes at local, state and national levels so they are able to bring those skills back to the community. The county is also looking to upgrade the radio system, which will allow for better communication and is a big part of ISO ratings."
"The new ISO ratings that go into effect April 1 are great news for all of us," Tharp said. "But we, as property owners, must call our insurance agents, reminding them of the change, to enjoy cost savings on our insurances," he added.
General News on 03/28/2018