State Insurance Commissioner and Fire Marshal Mike Causey presented new certificates for improved insurance ratings to seven Forsyth County fire departments on Tuesday.
Insurance ratings for fire departments are done every five years, and the insurance commissioner personally presents scores to departments that have made significant improvements. Causey gave the departments new, first-of-their-kind certificates to display in their fire stations during a ceremony held in the parking lot of Gospel Light Baptist Church. These improved ratings, which go into effect on Oct. 1, can significantly lower homeowner insurance rates.
“The public generally doesn’t realize how important their local fire department rating is to what their homeowner insurance rates are in that area,” said Causey
The scores are on a 10-point scale with “1” being the best. The departments that received new ratings are:
• Belews Creek, which went from a 5.9 to a 4
• City View maintained its 4 rating
• Piney Grove, which went from a 6.9 to 3
• Mineral Springs, which went from a 5.9 to 4
• Union Cross, which went from a 5.9 to 4
• Rural Hall, which went from a 5.9 to 5, with its municipal area going from a 5 to a 3