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AHOSKIE – Two local fire departments have been recognized by the state for improving their ratings.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey recently sent letters to George Michael Bradley, Chief of the Ahoskie Fire Department, and Patrick Dilday, Chief of the Ahoskie Rural Fire Department, in reference to the new ratings.

Both departments were rated on Aug. 17-18. The town’s fire department improved from a 5 to a 3 (a lower number reflects a better rating). Ahoskie Rural improved from a 6/9e to 5/9e.

Additionally, Ahoskie Rural tested for the water shuttle, which will allow the entire five-mile district to now be rated as a 5.

“I’d like to congratulate Chief Bradley and Chief Dilday for their department’s performance and for the hard work of all the department members,” said Commissioner Causey. “The citizens in the town the rural district should rest easy knowing they have a fine group of firefighters protecting them and their property in case of an emergency.”

Both of the new ratings become effective on Jan. 1, 2021.

The inspection, conducted by officials with the Department of Insurance Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), is required on a regular basis as part of the North Carolina Response Rating System (NCRRS). Among other things, the routine inspections look for proper staffing levels, sufficient equipment, proper maintenance of equipment, communications capabilities and availability of a water

source.

The NCRRS rating system ranges from one (highest) to 10 (not recognized as a certified fire department by the state), with most rural departments falling into the 9S category.

While lower ratings do not necessarily indicate poor service, a higher rating does suggest that a department is overall better equipped to respond to fires in its district.

State law requires OSFM officials to inspect departments serving districts of 100,000 people or less, which makes up all but 12 of the state’s fire districts.