Rolesville Rural Fire Department to Save Businesses Money on Insurance Premiums

Some businesses in northeast Wake County could see a decrease in fire insurance premiums after the Rolesville Rural Fire Department received a ratings boost from the North Carolina Department of Insurance and the Office of State Fire Marshal.

Commissioner of Insurance Mike Causey announced that the department has improved its fire rating from 3 to 2 within town limits. The rating in the rural unincorporated district improved from 4 to 3. All municipalities in Wake County now have an insurance rating of 2 or better.

“We’re very proud of the Rolesville Rural Fire Department,” said Commissioner Matt Calabria, chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners’ Public Safety Committee. “Our local fire departments are constantly working to improve, making our residents safer than ever before.”

Fire ratings are based on inspections that examine how well a local fire department can protect your community and home. Insurance companies use these ratings to determine how much they’ll charge to insure businesses, so improvements can mean significant savings for commercial structures.

The North Carolina Response Rating System’s scale ranges from 1 (highest) to 10 (not recognized as a certified fire department by the state). While any rating does not necessarily indicate poor service, a more favorable rating does suggest that a department is better equipped overall to respond to fires — and therefore can result in lower insurance rates in that district.

The inspection, which is required by the state on a regular basis, looks for proper staffing levels, sufficient equipment, proper maintenance of equipment, communications capabilities and availability of a water source. State law requires OSFM officials to inspect departments serving districts of 100,000 people or fewer.

“This is a great accomplishment by the Rolesville Rural Fire Department,” said Darrell Alford, director of Wake County Fire Services. “Wake County is very grateful for our continued partnership with the department, and we are excited to see it achieve these new, improved insurance ratings.”

Business owners in the county areas could see reduced insurance premiums based on these new scores by November 2022.

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