changes
may mean
savings
By BOB HIGH
It’s possible within the next few months for some Columbus County residents to realize a substantial savings – perhaps $100 or more – on their fire insurance premiums because of a new certification concerning expanded coverage by some volunteer fire departments.
“Not all of the county’s departments are included in the expanded coverage area, but most of them are,” announced Ronnie Hayes, director of the county’s Emergency Services and acting fire marshal.
Hayes pointed out the possible savings can’t be established with an individual’s insurance company until approval and final notification to insurance firms by the federal government.
“I expect this approval to be within the next four to five months. The state has approved these new areas of service,” Hayes noted.
Fourteen of the 20 fire units in the county have pushed their coverage from five to six miles. Departments with the new coverage areas are Acme-Delco-Riegelwood, Bolton, Brunswick, Evergreen, North Whiteville, Nakina, Klondyke, Lake Waccamaw, Hallsboro, Old Dock-Cypress Creek, St. James, White Marsh-Welches Creek, Williams and Roseland.
Departments continuing to serve only a five-mile road distance from their headquarters or substations are Buckhead, Cerro Gordo, Chadbourn, Fair Bluff, Tabor City and Whiteville.
“The measurement for coverage is not a circle. It’s actual road mileage from the department’s headquarters to a particular home or business. Residents or business owners who aren’t sure they’re eligible for this expanded coverage can call the chiefs of the departments covering their area, or call me at 640-6610,” Hayes stated.
Hayes noted that, for instance, some homes in the Pecan Orchard development west of Whiteville will be included in the Brunswick department’s six-mile range. He noted there are several such housing developments across the county now within the added mile of coverage by particular departments, except for the six units still covering only a five-mile area.
Mobile homes will not be eligible for insurance savings under most circumstances, but anyone with questions about their homes should contact his or her own insurance agent or carrier.
“There’s one important aspect of this coverage. Home or business owners now covered by a department within six miles can only get a rating of 9 on their fire insurance even if the department serving them has a lower rating. That’s because of the distance and time it would take for a fire unit to respond to their location,” Hayes added.
He noted all 20 county departments have gone to an automatic aid agreement. When a fire unit is dispatched for a structure fire it will be immediately sent mutual aid by nearby departments.
“The fire chiefs in this county have worked very hard to make this expanded coverage program take place, plus get the automatic aid system ready to use. They had to meet many requirements and it took several years.
“The chiefs and their volunteer members deserve a lot of credit for the work they’ve done to make all of this possible,” Hayes stated.
