Abbeville fire department scores well which will help keep property insurance costs down

Property owners in Abbeville will see fire insurance rates hold steady until 2019.
Abbeville Fire Chief Jude Mire announced during Tuesday’s Abbeville City Council meeting that the city’s fire rating from the Property Insurance Association will be a 3. The scale is based on 1-10, with 1 being the best.
“In 2010 we were a 3,” Mire said. “We stayed the same.
The rating is a result of a three- month-long evaluation of the Abbeville Fire Department. Inspectors scrutinize, among other aspects, the department’s water supply, equipment, personnel, and alarm and paging system.
The evaluation is conducted every four to five years. Mire said another will not be done in Abbeville until ‘19.
“I would like to congratulate all of my guys,” Mire said of the men and women in his department.
The chief also thanked the council and other departments that play a pivotal role in the process.
“I would like to thank you all for everything that you have given us,” Mire said. “I would like to thank the water department, as well as (Public Works Director) Clay Menard for all of their hard work.
“This is really some good news.”
Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza agreed, even if it is news some may no think about often.
“A lot of our citizens and commercial businesses don’t realize the benefit of having a 3 fire rating,” Piazza said. “They may not think about how it affects their homeowner and property insurances. I have spoken to a couple of insurance people here in town, and the difference between a 3 and a 4 could make as much as a 15 to 20 percent increase in homeowner’s insurance. That is a significant number.
“This a big savings for taxpayers.”
The rating is about as well as the department and city can reach. Either way, Mire said he is pleased with the result.
“To get to at least a 2 we would have to hire about 12 more people and have a training center,” Mire said. “Those things just are not feasible for a city this size.
“We are operating about as efficiently as we possibly can.”