Successful efforts to reduce the time firefighters need to battle flames in rural Baltimore County could save homeowners and businesses money on insurance rates, officials said Tuesday.
The Insurance Services Office (ISO), a leading risk-assessment firm that many insurance companies rely on to set their rates, lowered the rural county?s rankings from a nine to a six on a scale of one through 10, with one as best.
County Executive Jim Smith and fire officials trumpeted the improvement at a news conference in Baldwin, where Smith encouraged residents and business owners to contact their insurance agents to see if the change could lower their rates.
“All of these changes make our rural communities safer and more secure, but they also have another outstanding benefit,” Smith said. “While insurance companies set premiums for homeowners and businesses, most insurance companies rely on the ISO system when setting these rates.”
The firm last studied the area in 1987 and returned in June at the county?s request, fire spokeswoman Elise Armacost said. The county achieved the rankings by changing fire codes to require underground water storage tanks for developments of more than 10 houses. Developers since installed 35 new tanks and the county installed 27.
The county also mapped a system of ponds and streams and installed dry hydrants and pipes to tap into natural water sources where fire stations are spread apart.
County firefighters respond to scenes within five minutes and can access an uninterrupted water supply for up to four hours, according to Mike Waters, vice president of ISO?s Risk Decision Services.
County fire officials said they will continue to explore ways to further lower the county?s rating.
“There are a couple of areas where we think we could make a very small investment and get a good return,” said Assistant Fire Chief Mark Hubbard. “So we?re back to the drawing board.”
The county?s developed areas retained a “three” ranking.
