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Ekalaka Volunteer Fire warns of insurance hikes after ISO review, requests county help for new training/shop building
Summary
Ekalaka Volunteer Fire Chief told commissioners an ISO re-evaluation could raise local fire insurance rates 30–40%; the department requested county help to fund a $375,000 building and asked for possible county assistance in short-term vehicle storage.
Ekalaka Volunteer Fire representatives told the Carter County Commission on March 10 that an Insurance Services Office (ISO) inspection could lower the department’s fire-class rating and sharply raise local property insurance premiums.
Fire Chief Mike (last name not specified) said recent ISO findings would drop the volunteer department’s classification from a Class 5 to about a Class 9 because two of its primary apparatus are stored outside and unavailable year-round; ISO requires equipment to be housed ready to go 24/7. Chief Mike said a move to Class 9 could increase insurance premiums for county properties by an estimated 30%–40%, with sizeable potential impacts for the county’s own property insurance costs and for homeowners. He said ISO gave the department 90 days to show the apparatus are kept inside and operational.
To address the problem, Ekalaka Volunteer requested county support to build a new 60-by-125-foot heated metal building with a wash bay and meeting space that the department estimates can be built for about $375,000 (a contractor’s estimate presented at the meeting). The fire department said it has roughly $100,000–$125,000 on hand but is seeking an additional county contribution of around $250,000 to complete the building in a single phase. The department proposed cross-training with other county fire services in the new space and offered the facility for joint use by neighboring agencies.
Commissioners asked whether temporary storage solutions could meet ISO’s 90-day requirement until construction occurs. Staff discussed several short-term possibilities: leasing space from nearby businesses, coordinating use of the county shop if room can be freed, or exploring private hangars or sheds. The commission directed staff to investigate short-term indoor storage options for fire apparatus and to return with possible solutions. The department also said it would continue efforts to raise local funds and explore grant opportunities.
The board did not commit funds at the meeting but added the building concept to capital planning discussions and asked county staff to include the request in budget conversations ahead of next fiscal year.
