Chattanooga Times Free Press
TRENTON, Ga. — Fire insurance rates soon could fall for residents of Trenton, Ga.
At least that’s the hope of city officials and firefighters after the recent completion of an Insurance Services Organization examination.
The city has an ISO rating of six on a one-to-10 scale, with one being the best rating and 10 being the worst. The lower the rating, the lower the fire insurance rates for residents.
Ratings include evaluations of firefighting infrastructure and record keeping.
Trenton “missed a five during the last ISO rating in 1995 by just over one point,” said fire and utilities Commissioner Tommy Lawson.
Since then, “our record keeping has become strong enough to not only get the five, but we’re hoping to get a four,” he said.
Lawson praised Trenton Fire Chief Jerry Kyzer and his staff of 29 volunteers for their performance during a recent ISO inspection that lasted “11 straight hours.”
The first half of the day covered documentation, officials said.
“You’ve got to have everything documented,” Kyzer said. “Four or five years ago, we got a new computer system with fire programs in it, and it helped us to keep up with all our training, our pump tests, fire hydrant tests, and that way it’s all on computer and it’s not paperwork any more.”
The rest of the day covered field testing of equipment and fire hydrants, covering lines from “north to south and east to west,” Lawson said. All showed improved and consistent water pressure needed for firefighting, he said.
“The bottom line is, once we get to a four, residents’ insurance rates will come down,” Lawson said.
Just how much is open to question.
“Naturally, a significant change in ISO ratings would impact premiums, but it is impossible to predict the specific impact,” Trenton State Farm insurance agent Terry Pettus said.
“Ten to 15 percent,” Kyzer suggested. “To everybody who worked on it, I appreciate their help, and hopefully we’ll go for a four. That’s what we’re hoping for.”
Copyright 2011 Chattanooga Publishing Company