Elizabethtown Fire Department Lowers Insurance Rating and Welcomes New Captains

The Town of Elizabethtown had much to celebrate on Monday, August 5. Elizabethtown Fire Chief Nick West announced an improved fire suppression rating through the North Carolina Response Rating System (NCRRS) at the Town of Elizabethtown Town Council meeting.

The fire district recently completed an extensive inspection by the Office of State Fire Marshal and received an improved insurance rating of 4 in both the town and rural fire districts, according to West’s report. The improved insurance rating will be effective November 1, 2019. Ratings from the N.C. Response Rating range from 1 to 10 with 1 representing the highest level of fire suppression capabilities. The lower the rating suggests a fire department is overall better equipped and prepared to respond and mitigate fires located with its response district.

“I’d like to congratulate Chief West for the department’s performance and for the hard work of all the department members,” said Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey. “The citizens in the Town of these districts should rest easy knowing they have a fine group of firefighters protecting them and their property in case of an emergency.”

Businesses and homeowners located within the Elizabethtown Fire Department response district can contact their insurance companies to learn more on how the lower insurance rating may affect their policies. Four years ago the Elizabethtown Fire Department began the extensive process of implementing new procedures, increasing staffing levels, replacing apparatus, upgrading firefighting equipment, implementing effective community risk reduction programs, and maintaining existing infrastructure in order to improve service levels and lower the districts overall insurance rating.

The Elizabethtown Fire Department was last rated in 2008 and received a split rating of 5/6 (town/rural). The successful reduction in the insurance rating was achieved through the dedicated efforts of the Elizabethtown Town Council, Fire District Board members, Fire Department members and local community leaders, according to Chief West. The Town of Elizabethtown and the Elizabethtown Fire Department is committed to ensuring the continued safety of the community by providing the resources necessary to complete its mission, according to the Town Council and Chief West.