Congratulations Quincy Fire
Joins Almanor area departments with an impressive 3 ISO rating
On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the best, Quincy Fire just joined three other Plumas County fire departments in scoring an impressive 3 ISO rating. Three departments in the Almanor Basin already hold that rating: West Almanor, Chester and Peninsula Fire.
The ISO classification ratings are based upon several criteria including a community’s emergency communications systems, fire department, water supply, fire prevention efforts and public fire safety education programs.
The Insurance Services Office is a New Jersey-based for-profit company that provides these ratings. ISO sells the information it collects to insurance companies, which may use these ratings to determine property insurance rates.
While one could assume that a better ISO rating would result in lower insurance rates, it’s not a guarantee, because an ISO rating is just one of the factors used in calculating rates. A local insurance agent said that it also takes time for the new rating information to be disseminated to insurance carriers for inclusion in their data.
Quincy Fire went from a 4 to a 3, which is testament not only to the department itself, but to local infrastructure such as water and emergency communications. Some area fire agencies have a split rating that distinguishes areas in a fire protection agency that have hydrants from those that do not. Residents in the latter area could expect to have higher premiums. There are even areas in the county that are rated 10, which makes it more difficult to obtain any insurance.
Now that Quincy Fire has an improved rating, it will be interesting to see if, in the coming months, that will translate into lower insurance premiums; but regardless, residents should be pleased that the efforts of the fire department and other local agencies have resulted in the ability to provide superior service in protecting structures and the public.
Rally to protect FRC’s bachelor’s program
Feather River College worked diligently to become just one of 15 California community colleges to be able to offer a bachelor’s degree to its students. And its Bachelor of Science in Equine and Ranch Management already has proven to be an important addition to FRC.
It took a lot of effort to develop and implement the program, which could be in jeopardy if new state legislation isn’t passed. Community college bachelor’s degrees are considered a pilot program that is set to sunset unless action is taken. The new legislation would continue and enhance FRC’s ability to offer its bachelor’s program.
Feather River College President Kevin Trutna writes about the program and the bipartisan legislation to preserve it on the facing page. We encourage local residents to contact their state representatives and urge the passage of Senate Bill 769.
