Hendersonville Fire Department earns historic Class 1 Rating

HENDERSONVILLE - History was made on April 6 at the City Operations Center in downtown Hendersonville, as the North Carolina Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey came to town to tell the City of Hendersonville Fire Department that it was time to brag.

"I am proud to announce that the Hendersonville Fire Department Certificate Fire District Rating has gone from a Class 3 to a Class 1. That is the best of the best," Cuasey said. "You are now in an elite group of one of only 28 fire departments in all of North Carolina that has achieved this... so give yourself a hand."

This new rating could lower property insurance rates for residents and businesses Hendersonville Fire Department serves. Causey said the Class 1 rating will become official on July 1.

"But you'll have bragging rights immediately. I just can't say enough good things about the Hendersonville Fire Department," Causey said.

More: Valley Hill Fire and Rescue gets its highest Fire Protection Rating: ISO Class 2

Hendersonville's Class 1 rating announcement comes just a few weeks after Valley Hill Fire Department's announcement of a Class 2 rating. The rating system grades fire and rescue departments on things such as proper staffing levels, sufficient equipment, proper maintenance of equipment, communications capabilities and the availability of water.

"As Commissioner Causey said, this is a significant improvement to our Class Rating, which helps the citizens and visitors to our community," Hendersonville Fire Chief DJ Miller said. "It also helps our local businesses. It allows us to reach out for economic development, saying 'This is the place you want to come, to live and work here and play here.' This is the level of service we provide, so thank you very much... and we appreciate everyone's support."

Causey said many people in North Carolina don't understand the Fire Department Class Rating and how important it is to the economy.

"It is very, very important. You have it going from 10 to unrated to the best of the best, which is a Class 1. The higher the rating, the better off the people are, because it holds down insurance rates for residential and particularly commercial businesses."

Hendersonville Mayor Barbara Volk said that the Hendersonville City Council was "honored to be a part of this wonderful group," as she addressed Chief Miller and his staff.

"This is a well-deserved honor. This will be very good for our citizens and all of our property owners," she said. "Thank you all for everything that you've done."

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: What Hendersonville's historic Fire Rating will mean to residents, businesses