Vann Crossroads Fire Department rating has changed for the better after much hard work from the volunteer fire department, its fire chief said. And, he added, that improved safety rating impacts the whole community of Newton Grove.
According to Vann Crossroads Fire Chief Anthony Thornton, these ratings affect not only peace of mind about emergency preparedness, but also can lead to lower insurance premiums for the department itself and home and business owners in the district. The effects of a better rating radiate into the community in many ways, according to Thornton as well as state Fire Marshal Brian Taylor,
Taylor announced the new rating for Vann Crossroads Fire Department in a July 23 letter where he wrote: “The residents of Vann Crossroads fire district(s) can take comfort in knowing this highly capable team of firefighters is safeguarding them and their belongings in the event of an emergency.”
The rating for Vann Crossroads has gone down to a four from its previous rating of five. Thornton explained that fire departments are rated on a scale of one to 10, with one being the highest rating. Most rural fire departments in North Carolina, he said, have a rating of nine.
Achieving a rating of four takes dedication and effort from all firefighters, the chief noted, saying since most rural fire departments are volunteer-based, including Vann Crossroads, achieving a four is especially challenging to accomplish, and requires extra time from all the firefighters on top of many daily commitments they already have.
The rating is based on four key areas, which are emergency communication (dispatch reliability and call processing), fire department capabilities (staffing levels, training hours, apparatus, and deployment), water supply (hydrant coverage, flow rates, and system reliability), and community risk reduction (prevention, inspections, and public education efforts).
Thornton highlighted what a team effort this achievement was. All the volunteer firefighters were a part of collaborating to raise the rating, with training hours, equipment maintenance, enhanced emergency communication, and timed response benchmarks. Since the ratings are dependent on water supply and community risk reduction as well, the support of the town of Newton Grove and its citizens were vital as well, he stressed.
“We thank our neighboring departments because without them this wouldn’t be possible,” attested Thornton, expressing his gratitude for receiving this rating and the trust built in the community.
The better ratings don’t only mean reassurance about fire department safety, but also contribute to lower insurance premiums for home and business owners in the district as well as the fire department itself. These ratings affect community planning, budgets, operational benchmarks, and community reputation. The higher the rating the more optimized the resource use of the department and the better its safety performance, which is a win for the community at large.
This new rating goes into effect Nov. 1.