(Spirit Lake)– A new rating for the Spirit Lake Fire Department should be good news for home and business owners served by the department.
The Insurance Services Office, or ISO, ranks fire departments on a scale of 1 to 10, with one being the best and 10 the worst. Spirit Lake had been ranked at six since 1994…the last time the ISO rating was reviewed. Fire Chief Wally Jorgenson says numerous changes have been made to equipment and firefighters have undergone much more training since then. He says improvements were also made to the city’s water distribution system and communications system since then. As a result, Jorgenson says they requested a new rating. An inspector with the ISO was in Spirit Lake several days this past summer inspecting the various fire, water and communications operations. Based on that, the city’s rating was improved to a five.
Jorgenson says the new rating applies to homes and businesses within a five mile radius of the Spirit Lake fire station. The rating for those outside that went from a nine to eight. The new ratings are effective this coming December 1st.
Jorgenson says just what exactly the improved rating means depends on your insurance carrier. For most, though, he says it should result in a 10 to 14 percent reduction in homeowners insurance premiums. Jorgenson recommends contacting your insurance agent to see specifically how you would be affected.
Jorgenson adds the improved ISO rating speaks very highly of the volunteer department and the extensive training they go through each yar.
