By Shavonne Walker
shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

State Insurance Commissioner and Fire Marshal Mike Causey has announced that Atwell and Miller’s Ferry fire departments in Rowan County have completed routine inspection.

The inspections, conducted by officials with the Department of Insurance’s Office of State Fire Marshal, are required on a regular basis as part of the state’s response rating system. Among other things, inspectors look for proper staffing levels, sufficient equipment, proper maintenance of equipment, communications capabilities and availability of a water source.

Atwell Fire Department received a 4/9E, and Miller’s Ferry received a 3/9E. Both department ratings are effective Dec. 1

The response rating system ranges from one, which is the highest, to 10, which means a fire department is not certified by the state. Most rural departments fall into the 9S category.

While lower ratings do not necessarily indicate poor service, a higher rating suggests that a department is overall better equipped to respond to fires in its district. Higher ratings can also significantly lower homeowners insurance rates in that fire district.

The score is provided to insurance companies, which use them to help set home insurance rates. Further, a home that is less likely to be severely damaged or destroyed by fire is cheaper to insure.

Causey congratulated Chiefs Terry Beaver of Atwell and Josh Fox of Miller’s Ferry for their “department’s performance and for the hard work of all the department members.”

“The citizens in the town of these districts should rest easy knowing they have a fine group of firefighters protecting them and their property in case of an emergency,” Causey said.

State law requires the State Fire Marshal’s Office to inspect departments serving districts of 100,000 people or fewer, which includes all but 12 of the state’s fire districts.