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Kernersville Fire Rescue awarded Class 1 insurance rating after Colfax takeover and centennial year
Summary
Town officials announced at the July 8 Board of Aldermen meeting that Kernersville Fire Rescue has received a Class 1 community fire insurance rating for the Colfax Fire District after assuming operations in July 2023; officials credited interagency cooperation and long-term investments in equipment and staffing.
At the Kernersville Board of Aldermen meeting July 8, town officials announced that Kernersville Fire Rescue has received a Class 1 community fire insurance rating for the Colfax Fire District.
The town said the rating followed the July 2023 transition when the Colfax Fire Department turned over operations to Kernersville Fire Rescue. Town and fire officials credited the rating to coordinated work across multiple agencies, investments in equipment and staffing, and improvements in fire protection that span decades.
Town staff described a sequence of progressive rating improvements for Kernersville over many years: class 7 in 1965, class 5 in 1981, class 4 in 2003, class 3 in 2013, class 2 in 2018, and class 1 in 2023. Officials also noted that Colfax had improved its district rating during its 65 years of service before transferring operations.
Officials called the review and upgrade a required reevaluation by the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal after a district changes the administering department. The town thanked interlocal partners that took part in the evaluation and transition — including Guilford Metro 9-1-1, Guilford County Emergency Services, neighboring fire departments that provide automatic and mutual aid, water utilities, and county staff.
The meeting also highlighted community efforts to preserve and celebrate department heritage: town officials showed the restored 1923 LaFrance pumper — returned to parade service after a two-year restoration — and marked the department’s 100-year celebration in 2023.
Town leaders said the Class 1 rating applies to the Colfax Fire District now served by Kernersville and described the result as the product of collaborative decisions, interagency training, and the investments of multiple town departments and volunteers. No changes to insurance policy language, premium impacts, or other fiscal consequences were announced at the meeting.
The town’s presentation named past leaders from Colfax and thanked Colfax volunteers and board members for trusting Kernersville to continue their legacy. Officials said the department will continue to work with partner agencies to sustain service levels and maintain the new rating.
