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EURE – A recent inspection of the Eure Volunteer Fire Department by the Department of Insurance Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has resulted in a better rating for this group of emergency responders.

State Fire Marshal Mike Causey announced that the Eure VFD received a 4/9E rating.

The purpose of the inspection is to determine the Public Protection Classification (PPC) for the fire protection services protecting the community. The PPC is used to gauge the ability of a local fire department to respond to fires. A classification of 1 to 10 is then assigned based upon the results of an OSFM inspection. A rating of 1 indicates the highest level of fire protection and a rating of 10 is an indication of no fire protection or that a property is located more than six road miles from a fire station.

The rating of a community has a direct effect on the insurance premiums that an individual pay on their homes and commercial buildings. The PPC is used by the insurance industry in determining premiums for many properties within the community.

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.

While lower ratings (higher PPC number) do not necessarily indicate poor service, a higher rating (lower number) does suggest 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.

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

In determining the PPC rating, the community served by a fire department is divided in to three zones. The first zone includes properties located within five road miles of a fire station where the possible ratings range from class 1 to 10. The second zone include properties located between five and six road miles of a fire station where possible ratings range from 9E to 10. The third zone includes properties located more than six road miles from a station. The only rating given for properties in his zone is a class 10.

Prior to its recent inspection, Eure VFD was rated 5/9S.