The following is an email that goes out to emergency responders and discusses current events. The guy who writes these is Chief Billy Goldfetter and he has been a huge proponent of fire fighter and community safety. In this post he discusses fire department insurance ratings, and specifically the impacts to citizens directly in their pocket book from enhanced fire insurance costs. This would be no different but perhaps more severe for Lacey residents.
Remember, Lacey will be re-evaluated by the Washington Rating and Survey Bureau and under completely new standards. Billy talks about these standards that are being adopted in Washington and how these future standards are already being updated and becoming tougher. If Lacey plans to cut staffing and resources, Lacey residents and especially business will pay more than the city ever hopes to save.
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Billy’s letter:
Hey…
Well….duh.
Did folks in ANY community think there would not be a “cost” if FF’s are cut?
If firehouse are shut?
If response times increase?
While most of us who read this understand the REAL issue is the loss of life to the public when they HAVE a fire, and to the FF’s who have ridiculously increased risks because of what we are often expected to do-with less….perhaps this WILL get the attention of those who want to cut fire services.
Or those in any community who just may not know the realities of cuts. Or may not be told. ‘Magine that.
Looks like Atlanta property owners might end up paying as much as 10 percent more for their fire insurance unless the city hires more firefighters and shows its training is up to snuff, Georgia’s Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner John Oxendine warned today. He said that the preliminary findings of a report by the Insurance Services Office (link below) found Atlanta’s public protection classification rating dropped from 2 to 4 on a scale of 10 with 1 being the best rating. Atlanta has nine months to make changes that will allow the city to keep its current rating or drop to a 3…and that could cost taxpayers money-or more.
Most insurance companies use the ISO rating to help determine how much building owners should pay for insurance. The ISO inspects quite a bit from the number of firefighters a government has to the location of its fire hydrants….and the new proposed FSRS will be looking at even more. More than ever.
“The rating drop can be stopped by the City Council by saying life safety is a priority,” said Commish Oxendine, who is, by the way, running for governor. But on the other hand: “While we are disappointed in the slight drop in rating, we are proud to be one of the highest ranked cities in Georgia,” Fire Rescue Chief Kelvin Cochran said. Oxendine said Atlanta maintaining its 2 rating will be a challenge. “They are quite deficient”
So while they battle it out in Atlanta …and in hundreds of communities around the USA who are experiencing cuts, station shut downs and layoffs…we do know this:
==It has been proven that fires grow uncontrolled and rapidly without an effective and timely FD response unless the building is sprinklered.
==It has been proven that the less staffing, the more the fire can gain on us-and those who are in or own the building.
==It has been proven that when staffed companies take longer to arrive because of firehouse shut downs, the more the fire gains, the more civilians and FF’s are in predictable, increased danger.
==And very soon, thanks to the IAFF, NIST and WPI, there will be even more measurable proof that crew size and staffing really does make a difference when it comes to saving lives and property.
==If you want to find out what FIRE DEPARTMENT CUTS in the USA have happened where, so far,
GO HERE: http://firefighterclosecalls.com/staffing.php
==If you want to see IF YOUR COMMUNITY FIRE INSURANCE RATES COULD CHANGE based upon proposed cuts at your FD,
CONTACT ISO HERE: http://www.isomitigation.com/talk/
==If you want to LEARN about the CURRENT ISO EVALUATION PROCESS & FSRS,
GO HERE: http://www.isomitigation.com/ppc/0000/ppc0001.html
SO …..WHO IS ISO:
While most may be unaware, there are many, many seasoned Firefighters and Fire Officers, both current and past, career and volunteer, who are leading some very significant and positive changes at ISO. If you were to walk thru their NJ Headquarters, you would easily recognize the “joint” is filled with Firefighters and Fire Officers-and that’s a good thing.
For example, well known national fire instructor Robert W. “Butch” Cobb recently joined ISO as Director of Community Hazard Mitigation after retiring from his responsibilities as Jersey City’s Deputy Chief/Fire Department Operations and Deputy Coordinator, Office of Emergency Management/Homeland Security. Butch is also a veteran member of his local Volunteer FD where he is also an Former Chief. At ISO, Butch directs their public fire protection information gathering and analysis process that includes the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule, the manual containing the criteria ISO uses in reviewing the firefighting capabilities of individual communities. He will also act as ISO’s key spokesperson to the nation’s fire service.
SO….WHAT ABOUT THE “NEW” ISO 2009 FIRE SUPPRESSION RATING SCHEDULE?
ISO is heavily involved in a project to review and, if warranted, update the content of the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS). Their objective for this “Draft Concept FSRS 2009″ project is to identify portions of the current evaluation system worthy of potential revision. http://www.isomitigation.com/fsrs
Over the next few months, they genuinely want to engage in discussions with a variety of stakeholders in organizations that deal with water, fire, and emergency communications. ISO is seeking feedback on the scope and feasibility of the possible revisions.
Want to read more about the POTENTIAL FIRE SERVICE RELATED CHANGES from ISO?
Want to PROVIDE FEEDBACK to ISO?
GO HERE: http://www.isomitigation.com/fsrs
ARE YOU THE FIRE CHIEF? Click HERE:
https://www4.iso.com/auth/global/login.do?req_url=https://firechief.iso.com?&theme=firechief
Take Care-BE CAREFUL.
BillyG
The Secret List