Fire protection improves in Southwest Greensburg

May 23--Southwest Greensburg businesses could see a drop in fire insurance costs after a recent upgrade in the community's fire rating through an insurance-related group, borough officials said.

The borough's rating through the Insurance Service Organization improved from 5 to 3 this month, borough fire officials said.

"It means a lower insurance rate for the fire insurance," said Shaun Teacher, president of the borough's volunteer fire department. "They should get a deduction."

Under the program, the rating service uses data to assess a public protection classification rating that ranges from 1 to 10, according to the rating group's website.

Class 1 generally represents superior property fire protection, while class 10 is the lowest ranking, according to the website.

The Southwest Greensburg department requested a re-evaluation of the community's ratings about two years ago, Teacher said.

"We requested it to lower the insurance liability of local businesses to help them out," Teacher said. "But we really did it as a way to show the time and training we put in paid off."

The rating group evaluates fire department equipment, water supply, training, emergency communications, response time and other factors to determine the ranking, Teacher said.

He did not believe the rating upgrade would have much effect on residential insurance rates.

Borough Chief Bill Wright Jr. could not be reached for comment.

Insurance Service Organization has evaluated more than 47,000 communities nationwide.

"A community's investment in fire mitigation is a proven and reliable predictor of future fire losses," according to the group's website. "Many insurance companies use (the rating) to help establish fair premiums for fire insurance -- generally offering lower premiums in communities with better protection."

The borough's fire department has worked hard to increase training and improve equipment, Teacher said.

Helped by a $625,000 federal grant, the fire department bought a new aerial truck in 2010, replacing two obsolete pieces of equipment dating back to the 1980s, Teacher noted.

Improvements made by the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County and county 911 dispatching further helped boost the ranking, he said.

Teacher noted that not all insurance companies use the ranking system to help determine business premium costs.

Some insurance companies use their own systems.

Bob Stiles is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-836-6622 or [email protected].

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