Matanuska-Susitna Borough

West Lakes Fire improves fire rating

Mat-Su | Patty Sullivan | Thursday, December 04, 2014

West Lakes Fire Service Area joins the top 17 percent of fire departments in the nation by improving its Public Protection Classification from a 5/10 to a 4/10 rating. "I've got this incredible group, amazing group of responders," West Lakes Fire Chief Bill Gamble said of the audit efforts to perform through response times, training, and equipment use.

When the rating improves, residents often save on their home insurance costs depending on their insurance companies. "The improvement should translate into a lower homeowner insurance premium for property owners who have their insurance through insurance companies that recognize the ISO rating system," Gamble said.

ISO Audit

The Insurance Service Office performed the audit. ISO is the leading supplier of data for the property/casualty insurance industry.

The improved rating comes on the heels of a significant rating upgrade in 2011 when the department went from 8b/5/10.

The rating begins on Feb. 15, 2015. Gamble said his own home insurance dropped by $900 a year on the first rating improvement. This decrease will be less significant, possibly $100 savings per year. Home insurance rates vary of course.

The three improvements that likely played a role in convincing auditors:

• a temporary station purchased at mile 52.3 on the Parks Highway, moving all fire service area residents within five miles of a fire station.

• the addition of an aerial platform truck

• the addition of a ladder truck

Both trucks were donated by oil companies, BP and ConocoPhillips,  via connections with local firefighters who also work on the North Slope.

The West Lakes Fire Department is the result of a 2009 merger between the Big Lake and Meadow Lakes Fire Departments. The department has five fire stations with construction funding underway for Station 7-3.

Sponsors

Both trucks were donated by oil companies, BP and ConocoPhillips, via connections with local firefighters who also work on the North Slope. The West Lakes Fire Department is the result of a 2009 merger between the Big Lake and Meadow Lakes Fire Departments. The department has five fire stations with construction funding underway for Station 7-3.
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