(This is part 2 of a 4 part series about Ward Six Fire Protection District No. One)
National Fire Protection Association estimates there were an estimated 1,115,000 career and volunteer firefighters in the United States in 2018. Of the total number of firefighters, 370,000 (33%) were career firefighters and 745,000 (67%) were volunteer firefighters.
Without volunteers, Ward Six Fire Protection would not be in existence; therefore the cost of your homeowner’s insurance would almost double. The fire department is rated by Property Insurance Association of Louisiana (PIAL), who sets the fire rating that insurance companies follow in order to determine insurance rates for homeowners and business owners within the fire district. Based on a $100,000.00 homeowner’s insurance policy, the yearly cost would be $2,513.25 if the fire department has a Class 4 rating and $5,113.53 for a Class 10 rating. Most volunteer departments hold a Class 5 through Class 8 rating. Ward Six Fire Protection proudly holds a Class 4 rating.
The insurance rating requirements for volunteer departments are the same as the requirements for full time/paid departments. PIAL visits the fire department, water districts, fire training facility and 911 Communications Center every 5 years and conducts a thorough audit of the fire district boundaries, station locations, apparatus, equipment and hose inventories, response to structural alarms, water supply, membership participation and training hours, hydrant testing, hose testing, apparatus pump testing, 911 communications, mutual aid responses, firefighter certifications, commercial pre-plans and fire prevention programs. PIAL then rates on a 1 – 10 scale, with 1 being the best possible rating.
A huge part of the fire insurance rating is based on volunteer firefighter training. The minimum yearly PIAL training requirement for a volunteer firefighter to receive maximum rating credit is 228 hours of training, the same as required of paid/municipal department personnel. Officers on the department must receive an additional 12 hours of training per year. Being a volunteer firefighter isn’t about just responding to a fire and squirting water from a hose. It requires discipline, stamina and numerous hours of training. Firefighters must receive continuous training on the latest firefighting methods, equipment and building construction materials. Ward Six Firefighters spend a lot of time away from their families in order to achieve that training. The pride, dedication and hard work of our firefighters who volunteer their time, along with the continued support from the taxpayers within the fire district have made retaining our Class 4 rating possible.
Ward Six Firefighters are here for you and we continue to strive to improve fire protection throughout the Ward Six Fire District. The homeowners and businesses within our district are our priority and we appreciate your continued support throughout the past 34 years.
(Part 3 will cover information about our fleet of fire trucks and commercial property pre-plan procedures)