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Chase Smith

Staff Writer

Harro0gate homeowners should see a drop in their homeowners insurance thanks to the work of the Harrogate Fire Department. According to Fire Chief Rick Davis those savings should be in the neighborhood of 28 percent.

Davis says that the first instructions Harrogate Mayor Bill Fultz gave him when he became chief in January of 2011 was to get the I.S.O. rating lower. I.S.O (Insurance Service Office) is a for profit, organization that provides statistical information on risk. The I.S.O rates fire departments on a scale from one t0 ten, with one being the best, according to isomitigation.com.

Davis took the mayor’s instructions to heart, began work, and on January 31 were able to challenge I.S.O which resulted in the rating the mayor had asked for. Harrogate Fire Department went from a rating of ten to six, which saves basic homeowners almost $300 a year. It will also help local businesses that have had difficulty getting coverage. Davis adds, it all takes effect on Oct. 1 of this year.

To get an idea of where Harrogate Fire Department ranks compared to the rest of Tennessee, Davis say, “There are 1,017 fire departments in the state of Tennessee, and we are at the same rating as 205 of them. This is a good place to be.”

Davis wants to give a special thanks to Mayor Fultz, city recorder Rose Kiser, and financial officer Debbie England for all of their help.”A lot of people have done a lot of work, and its finally paid off,” says Davis.

He added that the Fire Department is always there to help surrounding areas anytime they are needed.

Mayor Fultz agreed saying, “A lot of fire departments don’t go outside their area to help but we will go anywhere we are asked. The Middlesboro Fire Department has always offered to help us and we will be there for them as well. All anyone has to do is call.”

Chase Smith is a staff writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. She can be contacted at 606.248.1010 ext. 204. She can also be contacted at ksmith@heartlandpublications.com.