New Fire Rating Could Mean Insurance Savings

BROOKSVILLE - A recent report on the county fire department could translate into savings on your homeowner's insurance.

Three months ago, inspectors from the Insurance Services Office (ISO) graded Hernando County Fire Rescue on everything from equipment quality to water supply.

The final results, released this week, have dropped HCFR's ISO rating from a 5 to a 3, placing the department within the top 15 percent of Florida's departments, according to a news release.

"Obviously we're very, very excited," said Assistant Chief Frank DeFrancesco.

The bragging rights are considerable for county firefighters, as this places them on par with Spring Hill Fire Rescue. But for some homeowners, it could mean lower rates on their insurance.

Specifically, a structure located within five miles of a fire station, but more than 1,000 feet from a hydrant, is now rated a 3. A structure farther than 1,000 feet from a hydrant - the rural tracts in the county - are considered an 8b. The scale ranges from 1 to 10, with 10 indicating a department does not meet ISO's minimum criteria.

The department is rated in three broad areas. The sheriff's dispatch received a 9.9 out of 10 points in the communications category; the county's water supply network was rated a 33.52 out of 40 points; the fire department was given 33.88 points out of 50.

The areas that needed improvement were in staffing levels and the number of stations. The county currently does not have a ladder truck, either, but the mutual aid agreements with the Brooksville and Spring Hill fire departments partly offset that disadvantage.

Recommendations to build two new stations are in line with the results of a master plan for all of the county's departments completed last year.

Property owners should consult their insurance companies to determine if the rates will be reduced.

Co-habitation Still

On The Table

The possibility of bunking county firefighters at the Brooksville Fire Department is still very much alive.

At the moment, the legal departments of both entities are still hashing out the details, but an agreement is expected to go before the appropriate authorities soon.

Station 24 is less than a half mile from the city fire department on Veterans Avenue. For streamlining purposes, especially in light of a new mutual aid agreement that drops jurisdictional boundaries, authorities propose merging the two stations.

"It only makes sense to look at the big picture," said Brooksville Fire Chief Tim Mossgrove.