The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

A recent evaluation of Wahkiakum fire departments by the Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau could mean a reduction in homeowner insurance rates for some residents.

Districts are rated on a scale of one through nine, according to District 4 Fire Chief Jim Wilson.

“The scores are much like golf,” Wilson said. “The lower the score, the better it is.

“The WSRB rates them on their fire fighting capabilities, dispatch capabilities, water system, policies, things like that and then they come up with a score for the fire department.”

This year, District 4 Fire Department’s score, which had been an eight, went down to five and Wilson and the other department’s volunteers are very proud.

“The fire district has always been rated an eight,” Wilson said. “We were able to drop to a five. I think most municipalities like the city of Longview are a five. I attribute it to the trainings that we do every week, the upgrade in our equipment, the involvement and hours of our volunteers, and our average response time. These are some of the most significant improvements that we have made.”

The five rating is for all homes and businesses in District 4, within a five mile radius and 1000 feet from a fire hydrant.

“Kudos to Wahkiakum 4,” Farmers Insurance Agent Linda Barth said. “They should be proud.”

The Puget Island Fire Department also improved. They started with an eight rating but were able to lower their score to six for residences or businesses within 1000 feet of a fire hydrant on the island.

Puget Island Fire Chief Scott Kehrli estimated that 75 percent of the homes on the island are within 1000 feet of a hydrant. The department is putting in two new hydrants this year and according to Kehrli, has committed to putting in three new fire hydrants every year after.

“In 10 years,” Kehrli said, “everyone should be covered.”

The Cathlamet Fire Department lowered its score from a seven to a six. The Skamokawa Fire Department remains an eight, but with so few volunteers, their number isn’t likely to go down any time soon, according to their Chief, Duncan Cruickshank.

The Grays River Fire Department was rated a few years ago and was not visited this time around.

Barth concurs with Wilson that the improvement numbers could mean lowered homeowners insurance rates.

But she also said that any new rates would be unlikely to begin until it’s time to renew the insurance. Barth suggested that local residents and business owners contact their insurance agents to ascertain whether their insurance rate will go down.