Duncan Chapel FD makes two-spot jump in insurance rating

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Duncan Chapel Fire District officials recently announced the district improved two classifications according to the Insurance Services Office, the New Jersey-based organization that collects fire protection information in communities throughout the United States to help establish insurance premiums for residential and commercial properties.

Using its Public Protection Classification scale of 1 (representing exemplary public protection) to 10 (indicating that an area's fire-protection does not meet ISO's minimum criteria), the group awarded Duncan Chapel a Class 2 rating.

Among ISO’s database of more than 48,500 fire jurisdictions nationwide (601 in S.C.), just over 1300 in the United States (87 in S.C.) hold a Class 2 or better.

"With the blessing of our commissioners, our personnel and officers put a plan together nearly four years ago to increase the level of service and protection we are able to provide," Chief Russell Watson of Duncan Chapel said. "And with our new station about to come on line in the next couple of months, we will be able to reduce response times to another part of the District."

As a result of improving to a Class 2 rating, property owners in the district could see savings in their property insurance premiums when the new rating takes effect on July 1, 2016, according to Watson, who added that premium changes vary by insurance carrier and property.

According to public information published by ISO, objective evaluations of fire jurisdictions focus on four major areas: emergency communications systems, fire department(s), water supply, and community risk reduction.

Duncan Chapel Fire District ISO Classification Dates

1971: Class 8

1972: Class 8 to Class 7

1974: Class 7 to Class 5

2003: Class 5 to Class 4

Effective July 1, 2016: Class 4 to Class 2

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