Bull Lake Fire earns new rating
A dramatic change in the public protection classification for the Bull Lake Rural Fire District will lead to lower property taxes.
After five years of training and $150,000 raised from wild land fire orders and donations, the fire district applied for a new Insurance Service Office (ISO) rating. Ratings range between 1-10. Like golf, lower is better. The ratings are used to determine fire insurance coverage for homeowners.
The fire district now holds a 06/6Y rating. It was previously rated 9, the lowest score for an area with a nearby fire service. The Y in 06/6Y is a rating that may be used by residences that may receive fire service from the fire district, but are outside of a five-mile radius from the district’s nearest water supply.
“We are working to provide more pumping capacity so we can get everyone on 6,” Bull Lake Fire Chief Clyde Miller said. “This is something that benefits everyone. Most people will enjoy tax rebates.”
Miller said his fire district began considering reevaluation in 2011 and took its time to prepare. The ISO visited and evaluated three years of records, engine pump certifications, dispatching and water supply.
“We were hoping for a 7,” Miller said. “But a letter came July 28 that said they could not believe our training hours.”
The district plans to construct two more stations in strategic locations to maximize the number of people that may use the new ISO rating. The district currently has stations on Angel Island and at Majestic View. Miller said he has spoken with people enjoying $800 deductions on their fire protection premium.
“We have a little more work to do if we are going to improve,” Battalion Chief Jim Ward said. “We can get our times down and improve water access.”
Ward said the district uses draft sites, or dry hydrants, in many rural areas. A dry hydrant is a pipe sticking out of a water body that may be used to dispel water in the case of an emergency. The ISO, however, does not rate dry hydrants as highly as typical fire hydrants.
“These are commonly used in rural departments around the country,” Ward said. “There are a lot of places where pipes just would not make sense.”
The district will hold three events this month making available documentation required for annexation into the district. People looking to annex must bring tax notices.
The annexation events at Battalion 2 Fire Station on Doonan View Drive will be held: 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 23 and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 27.