Fire station proximity can influence insurance rates

June 06-- Jun. 6--When it comes to determining homeowners insurance rates in Pueblo West, a home's proximity to a fire station is one of many factors that can tip the scales.

Pueblo West Fire Chief Brian Caserta said the Insurance Service Organization's rating for homes in the area has a lot to do with what the rate will be. He also indicated that some residents living in the west and southwest areas of Pueblo West have been dropped by their insurance companies and had to find others because they live so far from a fire station.

Caserta is hopeful residents will see the value in getting behind the Pueblo West Metro District's effort to construction a new station 2 near the intersection of Industry and South McCulloch. Voters could see a ballot initiative for the station, which likely would ask for approval of a sales tax, as soon as this November.

Insurance Agent and Broker Colleen Peterson of Pueblo West said the Insurance Service Organization rating for Pueblo West used to be a five but most homes are now in the four category, which means lower rates.

"If you are within 10 miles of a fire station your score will be lower so the rates will be lower because it is a shorter time span for the fire department to get to your house," Peterson explained.

"In the newer neighborhoods in the west end, the ISO rate can be a six or a seven," she said, which means higher rates for those residents.

When asked for input on the "I Live in Pueblo West" Facebook page, resident Shannon Buerkle, who lives in west Pueblo West told The View she pays more than $200 a month for homeowners insurance.

Another western resident, Sarah Heaton, reported she pays about $108 a month for insurance after shopping for a new insurance company. The former company charged her more than $166 a month.

Peterson said rates can be influenced by each individual home's mitigation factors such as the proximity of trees or brush to the home and the type of roof. The number of fire extinguishers and whether homeowners have an alarm that alerts the fire department are other factors.

"It also can depend on your prior insurance, the number of previous claims you've had and the condition of the home. There's so many factors it is just so hard to explain why the rates are the way they are," Peterson explained.

Pueblo County homeowners insurance rates tend to be higher than both neighboring Fremont and El Paso Counties, Peterson said. Indeed, one Canon City resident reported paying just $80 a month for homeowners insurance.

"I don't know why that is," Peterson said.

Peterson said, as a broker, she tries to find the best rate for customers as well as the best value in terms of coverage.

"We have companies that will cover homes out there (west Pueblo West) and sometimes we have to go with a surplus line versus a preferred line because the preferred line rates can be really expensive," she explained.

Another thing Pueblo West homeowners need to be aware of is that insurance companies have been adjusting wind and hail damage deductibles which now range between $2,500 and $5,000 in Pueblo West, Peterson said.

"We try to educate people so they understand what they are covered for and what the deductibles are going to be. You get what you pay for," she said.

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